My name is Charlotte and I love mud!
Ceramics and sculpture have been an important part of my life since I was a little kid. From a very young age, I got a taste of polymer clay and my hands have felt the urge to build ever since. In high school, I took my first ceramics class and it became like second nature. The majority of my days from then on were spent in the studio; any chance I’d get to fill my time with clay I’d be there.
I graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2014 and received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a concentration in illustration. From then on I spent years freelancing in two-dimensional work but always felt something important was missing. After a good amount of time sorting myself out, and with (a lot) of support from my family I found myself building a home studio and switching gears completely!
I now find it impossible to deny what I was always meant to do and there’s no stopping me!
Socials::
www.earthenwitch.com
Instagram.com/earthenwitchh
Facebook.com/earthenwitch
1.) What elements and/or characteristics made you say to yourself that you wanted to do ceramics for a living? Who are your influences/heroes/role models?
Ceramics have been a passion and affinity since a young age. Things like stop-motion animation (Nightmare Before Christmas, Wallace and Gromit) were pretty big childhood influences. Illustration and animation, as a whole, influenced me as I love to recreate the characters, in the physical world.
2.) If you could compare yourself to someone who is already established in your line of work, who would that be and why? If you don’t like to compare yourself, then what separates you from other everyone else who does what you do?
Unlike many others in my field who throw on the wheel; I like to sculpt my own illustrations. I love to bring the characters to life – whether that be via the character’s expression or what comes out in the finer details such as glazing and composition.
3.) Everyone in life goes through adversity of some sort. Is there anything in your life that has any influence on the work that you do? What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure on your path to becoming an entrepreneur?
Probably not having the confidence to just take the plunge and show my work on my own without it being a requirement. Call it “imposter syndrome”, but for years I convinced myself that I wouldn’t add up to a peer group, let alone the real world. So after college, I kept producing illustrations until realizing I wanted to focus on my true love of ceramics.
4.) How do you prepare yourself to create? What is your process?
It all starts with a clean workspace! Sometimes I’ll spend extra time cleaning beforehand, just to feel good in the space I’m in. Other than that, a good playlist (or podcast) is super important because it’s hard to work without sound. Sprinkle in a little bit of caffeine and cannabis and it’s usually a productive day!
5.) Unfortunately many industries are full of talented individuals who more or less become the “starving artist” and don’t get any recognition for their talent and/or hard work. What do you plan to do to make sure you stand out and get noticed?
Keeping up interpersonal relationships is key. My work should speak for itself, but I need to actually put myself out there to be seen! This includes, not only attending networking events, but putting extra effort into marketing and advertisement on social media. Staying on trend and knowing the audience, is a must.
6.) Would you rather work for a big corporation or would you rather stay independent? Why or why not? What makes one better than the other? Are you able to make a living with your art? If so, how were you able to attain a career doing what you love? If not, what do you do in order to fund your business? What advice would give to someone who’s interested in pursuing a career in the creative industry?
I prefer to work independently. Collaborations are cool but I would never want to be forced in the direction of a corporation and risk losing my artistic license. This is my first year going into full business mode and so far so good! I can’t stress how important it is to advocate for yourself. It’s a skill and career just as important as any other and takes time, hard work, patience and talent.
7.) How do you think the internet and social media affected the creative industry and how artists are able to market themselves? Social media is obviously an extremely important element in today’s world, especially when it comes to business, branding, marketing, etc. With that being said, do you think an artist will be able to survive in today’s economy if they’re not social media savvy?
It’s daunting and unfortunately necessary, but not impossible! Social media is one of the most important tools artists have at their disposal these days. We are able to share what we do in an instant with so many different outlets. That being said, it can be difficult to keep up with and understand every angle. (Luckily that’s where my wife comes in!) Ultimately, being personable is the most important. People will help spread the word if they like what you do and you’re a good human.
8.) Typically, entrepreneurs who try to create products and/or services for mass consumption for the general public and make more money are seen as “sell-outs.” Do you see it that way and if so, what do you plan to do to make sure that what you offer stays true to your brand and make a good living at the same time without having to “sell out”?
I will probably get into molding and casting down the line, but I don’t believe much will go beyond my personal touch. There will always be a direct connection to myself as well, I’ll always be there to communicate.
9.) Professionally, where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
5 years from now I plan to have enough rolling inventory to support an online shop, as well as local places, while still vending at events! I would love to see this seedling grow into a full-on tree!
