Ryan Durbin and Becca Otis host a podcast called Wheel Talk. With 20 years of experience together and 5 years of friendship under their belts, they have candid, real and honest conversations about what it's actually is like to running a small business, whether it be a full time gig (Becca) or a sweet side hustle (Ryan).
Sara Ballek is a ceramic artist living in Asheville, North Carolina. Sara is currently a Resident Artist and instructor at Odyssey ClayWorks in Asheville. Sara works with a number of methods and processes to create functional pottery with a focus on color, pattern, and texture.
I see my artwork as a journey in which the process - the very visceral act of creating is as significant as the final outcome. It is labyrinthine in its development and I am often surprised by the intuitive level of its revelation. I am entranced by the visual traces of this journey and the slow development of a patina of color and texture, the subtle variation of simple forms, and the impact of timing, and of time. To me, these layering’s are reminiscent of geological formation and similarly of...
In this episode I gave you, the listeners an opportunity to grab the mic and share your mind. This is in celebration of reaching 600 episodes! I can't believe that we have hit such a crazy number. I owe all the thanks to you and to our amazing guests that we have had over the years. So from the bottom of my heart I want to say, Thank you.
Jessica’s early years were spent in Upstate New York. The daughter of an engineer and a photographer, Jessica grew up in her father’s workshop and her mother’s darkroom. Jessica earned a BA in Studio Art at UT Austin and has worked in graphic design and ceramics for over 20 years.
Kimmy Rohrs and Aaron McSorley are the potters behind whiskey and clay - ceramics for everyday use from the high deserts in Santa Fe New Mexico and Terlingua Texas. Kimmy throws all the pots at her studio in a converted gas station near downtown Santa Fe, drives them up the mountain to their adobe home where the couple and their kiln live, Aaron then fires each piece to cone 10 temperatures in a heavy reduction firing environment. The outcome is rustic, minimal, and simple pieces to add joy to e...
Ceramics found Embla Sigurgeirsdottir in 2011 when she stood at crossroads in life and took her on a journey she didn´t expect, an adventure had begun and a new passion for life. Embla works mainly with surface texture by carving into and through her porcelain designs, creating strong patterns and dramatic effects of light and shadows. Embla's designs often come from the ability of the material itself. Working with porcelain and drawn to its white and translucent nature, Embla plays with the bou...
Denise McDonald originally trained as a Landscape Architect, obtaining a Degree in Landscape Architecture in 1991. Denise quickly realized that wasn’t for her and switched to a career path in ceramics by doing a TAFE Diploma of Ceramics in 1996-97. Denise worked in production potteries over the next few years to learn the skills and traditions of her trade from the roots up, most notably, she did the Dartington Pottery Traineeship in England in 1998-1999. Denise began her business DM Pottery in ...
Working out of her home studio in Virginia, Marianne Tolosa creates almost exclusively mugs inspired by the garden. There is an inherent intimacy to objects that have been made by hand, and Marianne's work is created with the hope of bringing quiet beauty, meditation, and joy into a person’s coffee or tea ritual.
Born in Pennsylvania but raised in Nebraska, Danielle Whigham received her B.A. in studio art from Northwestern College in 2007. While in college, Danielle was able to take advanced classes in ceramics, painting, and printmaking. Over the past two years, Danielle has been starting up a small ceramic studio in her home while also making the transition from full-time mom to studio potter. Danielle has been able to sell her work at several markets across the state and start an online store.
Lindsay Klix is the ceramic artist who runs Off Your Rocker Pottery. Lindsay has been working in clay for 21 years and specializes in dinnerware, including full dish sets. Lindsay's work has been featured in the American Farmhouse Style Magazine, in the number one selling cookbook No Crumbs Left, and more.
For the last nine years, Elena Vasilantonaki has been making with clay, inspired by her need to express herself, to achieve communication, and to present her view of the human nature to others. Born in 1977 in Athens Greece, Elena moved to over six cities by the age of eighteen. After completing her BA in English Literature at the University of Athens, Elena taught at a local school for a few years until she stopped to become a full time mother. During that period Elena started taking painting l...
Chiara Della Santina was born and raised in Tuscany but spent many years living abroad. Chiara moved back to Orbetello (her hometown) 5 years ago. For many years Chiara worked as a language teacher. About 2 years ago Chiara decided to shake up her life and become a full-time potter. So far it’s been the best decision Chiara ever made in her entire life!
Stephanie H. Shih explores concepts of home—not just as a physical place, but also as cultural, generational, and emotional spaces we inhabit—through the lens of Asian-American identity. Eighteen pieces from her current body of work will be exhibited at the American Museum of Ceramic Art (Pomona, CA) in 2020. Stephanie lives in Brooklyn.
Bethany Sheesley is a ceramic artist, brand designer, and studio owner with a BFA from the University of Iowa. Bethany has spent the last decade fully immersed in design and ceramics. Three years ago, Bethany realized a dream of hers by creating a new pottery studio in Phoenix, AZ, where she lives and works with other artists. Bethany's ceramic work is an ever-evolving exploration, inspired by nature, design, and a variety of artistic mediums.
Tara Carter is a ceramic artist living in Telluride, Colorado. Tara earned her BA in Ceramics and MBA from Otterbein University in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Since graduating in 2011, Tara has been teaching ceramics classes, developing her own work by attending a variety of workshops, and exhibiting her wares.
Gabriela Martinez (Gabo Martini) was born in Tarimoro, Guanajuato, Mexico in 1995. She received her BFA in Studio Art with a concentration in Ceramics from Texas State University in 2018. Martini’s work is inspired by indigenous Mexican and Native American art. She carves patterning and lettering onto terracotta vessel forms.
Mia Moss is a potter born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After moving to Berlin in 2014, Mia decided to commit to pottery as her career. In 2017, Mia opened a small community space, to give classes and bring in other potters. In 2019, Mia moved again to an even bigger space.
Amy Brummond is the clay enthusiast and self-taught potter behind Pine Zen Pottery. She loves combining color and pattern in her work. Amy practices yoga and meditation daily and gets outside as often as possible. She currently resides in Minnesota--where she lives with her husband and two sons.
Emma Hall is a 30 year old, self-taught potter based in the beautiful Cotswold’s in the U.K. Emma has always been creative, even creating her own shows at age 16, but she didn’t continue this creativity and went to university studying something completely different. Emma says something she learned in life is that if you are truly creative it will find you again and so she did with pottery. Emma creates brightly colored and fluid pieces. Addicted to color is a fitting description for Emma. She ex...
Joe Lee is a ceramic artist living in Irvine, California. Joe has been doing pottery for 10 years and he likes to throw vessels and cover the surfaces with intricately carved patterns.
Keith Hershberger is a potter living in Philadelphia who has made a living working in clay for over 20 years. In 2011 Keith founded the Highland Park Pottery Tour, a neighborhood based tour where ceramic artists invite the public into their homes and studios to view and purchase their work.
Creating pots is for Yoon Surl the ultimate act of consciousness. Rather than letting Youn's unconsciousness drive his art work, Yoon fashions clay into a shape that corresponds to a preconceived vision.
Dave Zackin studied animation at RISD, taught art classes for adults with schizophrenia for a few years, redesigned the recycling stickers for the City of New York, and then got into ceramics. His work, mostly depicting old men with big noses, is often made from greenware and bisquware discarded by others.
Louis Reilly has been making functional pottery since 2008. Louis maintains a steady studio practice and exhibits his work internationally. Louis obtained his BFA in 2009 from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his MFA in 2013 from Utah State University. Louis serves as Studio Coordinator at KC Clay Guild and teaches ceramics at Benedictine College.
Michelle Miolla is a potter living in the mountains of North Carolina in a town called Vilas, right outside of Boone. Michelle has her BFA in clay from Appalachian State University. Michelle primarily handbuilds, but also loves to throw on the wheel. Michelle also bartends at Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Boone’s first brewery!
Rosemarie Durr is a Kilkenny based Irish potter who hand throws a range of contemporary stoneware tableware which is designed for everyday use. Rosemarie has a background in design and her distinctive powder blue and buttermilk white glazes are uplifting and fit into every home and lifestyle. The pots are thrown finely and are light to the touch. Rosemarie shares her studio and shop with ceramic artist husband Andrew Ludick.
Zeynep Testoni’s work is inspired by the ocean and natural surrounds of her home in the seaside village of Gerroa, two hours south of Sydney in NSW, Australia. Zeynep has chosen ceramics as her ‘encore career’ after teaching English in secondary schools for almost 30 years. Zeynep's home studio is becoming a thriving local hub for pottery enthusiasts.
David Kenton Kring was born and raised in Frankfort, Kentucky where he grew up in a small family-run men's workwear store. This blue collar atmosphere helped to influence not only David's passion of working with his hands but also his surfaces. David received his BA from Transylvania University focusing in ceramics and mixed media. David then began working for the ceramic distributor Kentucky Mudworks, where he honed his skills as a figurative sculptor and potter. Since then David has exhibited ...
Daniel Tomcik is a wood fire potter and pizza maker from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dan received his BFA from California University of Pennsylvania. He worked as an apprentice at the Baltimore Clayworks Noborigama, and as summer staff at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts. Daniel is currently the Studio and Grounds Manager at Touchstone Center for Crafts, where he is working to cultivate a community of wood-firing enthusiasts.
