March in the Studio: Recharging, Reviewing & Re-emerging
Image: Peter Evans in his studio, Peter Evans Pottery, Northfield VT.
Most mornings, I walk out of my house and take about twenty steps or so to my pottery studio. I say most mornings because this winter I took a few weeks off to do a personal retreat. I did a retreat, not to run away, but for personal exploration, recharging, planning, soul-searching, goal setting and to organize my thoughts about what’s next in the studio. I spent the time planning the work that I want to accomplish when I return, did some sketching and played back the video in my brain that captured my time as a potter during the last year.
A big focus of my retreat was thinking more about how I can increase my ability to connect people to my pottery. In the interest of full disclosure, I practice an approach to selling my work that can best be described as “a little bit of everything”. The “everything” includes a website with an online store that has at times been busy, other times pretty slow and sometimes dead. The number of emails I get from website techies that offer to bump up sales if I contract with them leads me to believe that my own web skills are lacking. I use FaceBook and Instagram to spread the word about upcoming markets and sales including Open Studio Weekend in May and October. Despite having a lot of likes and positive comments, I wonder if there’s more to using social media than I currently know about. I sell my pottery in two shops currently with a third in the works and receive a percentage of every pot that sells. One is a 50/50 cut while the other one is 70/30 and the new one will be 60/40. It’s hard for me to judge if these arrangements are fair, but they are what they are. I participate in an online market from October through April and pay a flat fee of $100. My pots sell well up through the holidays and then drop off considerably after. I was invited to do a pop-up at our local coffee roaster shop right before the holidays and had a busy day.
I’ve wondered during my retreat, if my “little bit of everything” is similar to others or am I missing something. All in all, making money from selling my pottery is working out . My studio provides me a warm and inviting space equipped with everything I need to make pottery. I cover all of my expenses and have a few thousand dollars in the bank for bigger projects both with my pottery projects and studio improvements. The question that I’ve been pondering during these winter days of planning for the future is, can I do more? It’s not primarily about the money, it’s about getting my work in the hands of people who can use it everyday.
I love the solitude of working by myself, reflecting on my time and planning my next steps. The issue for me is, I don’t have all of the answers and could benefit from conversions with others working out solutions to some of the same problems I’m working on. That’s why I was very pleased to learn that the Vermont Crafts Council has decided to once again hold an in-person gathering to conduct their Annual Meeting and to share ideas about the best practices in marketing after Covid put a hold on it for the past few years. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 16th at the White River Craft Center in Randolph. While the final plan for the day is still being worked out (look for more details, soon) it’s clear from the early planning that this will be a great reason to emerge from your studio for the day. We all need human interaction, especially after a winter like this one.
Peter Evans owns Peter Evans Pottery in Northfield and is a board member of the Vermont Crafts Council.
Vermont Craft Council Blog
FEBRUARY 2025 – Looking Forward to Open Studio
Image: Steven Bronstein in his studio, Blackthorne Forge, Marshfield VT.
Steve’s studio was alive. He was demonstrating blacksmithing, turning hot metal into maple leaf hooks. The studio itself was a wonderland of objects. I could have spent hours just exploring. Two kids were bouncing around with excitement, eyes wide with the thrill of the furnace and the danger of the tools, all at a safe distance. Their parent and I watched, captivated. Steve’s studio was a treasure trove of intriguing objects. Everywhere I looked, something pulled me away from the polite conversation.
I was especially drawn to a small corridor filled with his metal birds, clocks, and candle holders. I lingered there, listening as he explained his process. He talked about making his own tools, and the fascinating history of steel nails in early America (apparently, they were so precious, that people would burn down their houses to reclaim them before moving!). I don’t know if that’s entirely true, but it’s one of those little details that stuck with me. I did get to briefly talk to Steve between demonstrations, about the Crafts Council, which, led to my joining the board.
It’s funny what you remember. The objects, bits of information about materials, about craft, about history. Things I still use in conversation today. That visit wasn’t just about seeing art; it was about connection and learning. It reminded me that Open Studio has something for everyone, whether you’re an artist, an art lover, a curious kid, or just someone who appreciates a good story.
Daniel Zeese is an artist, educator, and the Executive Director of Frog Hollow Craft Gallery in Burlington, Vermont.
Daniel has been a member of the board of the Vermont Crafts Council since 2023