Today I bring you Jonathan from Sawyer Ceramics. He has an etsy shop full of wonderful crafted kitchenware among other goodies. Enjoy the interview and don't forget to stop by his shop and facebook page.
1. Tell us as little or as much as you would like about yourself.
I grew up and currently live in San Diego, California. Before becoming a potter my first interest was playing Soccer. I played at the club level and continued to play in high school, college and at the semi-professional level. My first experience with pottery wasn’t until my senior year of high school. I took a beginning ceramics class and really enjoyed it. After high school I attended UCSD where I continued taking beginning and intermediate ceramics classes . As my interest in ceramics grew I began investing in my own equipment and eventually obtained everything necessary to create pieces from home.
2. What do you sell?
I specialize in making functional pottery. Some of my common items include, mugs, bowls, jars, platters and vases. All of my work is formed on the potter’s wheel and high fired to 2,350F in a gas kiln. All of my glazes are mixed by hand from bags of raw materials. All of my glazes are lead free.
3. Why handmade?
I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment after making something on my own. All stages of the production process are very hands on from the forming of a piece to the firing of the kiln.
4. Where does your inspiration to create come from and/or your inspiration in life?
Most of my inspiration to create new pieces comes from other potters’ work. There are limitless possibilities with forms and glazes. I constantly feel challenged to learn new techniques to create new and improved pieces.
5. Besides creating what else do you do? Do you have a full time job?
Aside from my pottery business I spend 10-15 hours a week coaching youth club soccer. Over the last year pottery has taken over as my full time job.
6. When did you start thinking you were an artist?
I don’t think of myself as a very artistic person but the more experienced I’ve become with pottery the more ideas and inspiration I get to make more creative pieces. I think being artistic is like any other skill set that will grow with time and practice.
7. Who has been most influential in your craft work?
The internet has been a great learning resource for me and has had a major influence on my work. I learn a lot from other potters in online forums as well as through educational YouTube videos. My mom, Linda has also has a strong influence on my work. Along with helping run the business she provides me with new ideas and gives me feedback on my work from a different perspective.
8. Where would you like to be in five years? In five years I hope to be more settled with the type of work I want to be creating. There are so many options I want to explore in the ceramic field before I decide what I enjoy creating the most. A dedicated home studio would be nice too.
9. Is there anything you'd like to try doing that you haven't done? crafts, sports, life in general? I’d like to learn how to weld. As I mentioned, I like to work with my
hands. Welding is a very useful skill, especially for a potter.
10. Besides online where else do you sell? Other than online sales I sell at farmers markets, craft fairs and other similar events. I’ve also done custom orders for restaurants, retail stores, weddings, etc.
1. Tell us as little or as much as you would like about yourself.
I grew up and currently live in San Diego, California. Before becoming a potter my first interest was playing Soccer. I played at the club level and continued to play in high school, college and at the semi-professional level. My first experience with pottery wasn’t until my senior year of high school. I took a beginning ceramics class and really enjoyed it. After high school I attended UCSD where I continued taking beginning and intermediate ceramics classes . As my interest in ceramics grew I began investing in my own equipment and eventually obtained everything necessary to create pieces from home.
2. What do you sell?
I specialize in making functional pottery. Some of my common items include, mugs, bowls, jars, platters and vases. All of my work is formed on the potter’s wheel and high fired to 2,350F in a gas kiln. All of my glazes are mixed by hand from bags of raw materials. All of my glazes are lead free.
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| Ceramic Colander |
I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment after making something on my own. All stages of the production process are very hands on from the forming of a piece to the firing of the kiln.
4. Where does your inspiration to create come from and/or your inspiration in life?
Most of my inspiration to create new pieces comes from other potters’ work. There are limitless possibilities with forms and glazes. I constantly feel challenged to learn new techniques to create new and improved pieces.
 |
| Spoon Croack |
Aside from my pottery business I spend 10-15 hours a week coaching youth club soccer. Over the last year pottery has taken over as my full time job.
6. When did you start thinking you were an artist?
I don’t think of myself as a very artistic person but the more experienced I’ve become with pottery the more ideas and inspiration I get to make more creative pieces. I think being artistic is like any other skill set that will grow with time and practice.
 |
| Ceramic Yarn Bowl |
The internet has been a great learning resource for me and has had a major influence on my work. I learn a lot from other potters in online forums as well as through educational YouTube videos. My mom, Linda has also has a strong influence on my work. Along with helping run the business she provides me with new ideas and gives me feedback on my work from a different perspective.
8. Where would you like to be in five years? In five years I hope to be more settled with the type of work I want to be creating. There are so many options I want to explore in the ceramic field before I decide what I enjoy creating the most. A dedicated home studio would be nice too.
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| Handmade mug |
10. Besides online where else do you sell? Other than online sales I sell at farmers markets, craft fairs and other similar events. I’ve also done custom orders for restaurants, retail stores, weddings, etc.
ways to find you:
email: sawyerceramics@gmail.com
What beautiful work! I love the functionality! Having taken a pottery class myself I really respect people who can create really great, useable pieces!
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful work! I love handmade pottery and have quite a lot of it in my house. His work is really lovely! had to check out the Etsy as well :)
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