On Following Your Creative Itch
A newsletter about writing, art and living more creatively
It's February! Where is 2020 going already?
For this month's newsletter, I got to learn more about Esther Jeong, a ceramic artist I found while browsing through the 'gram.
We chatted about her practice and tips for creatives.
When did you start exploring ceramics for the first time?
I first learned how to make ceramics in high school, and I fell in love with it. But it took years for me to return to it. During my undergrad years at UC Davis I found the ceramics studio on campus that really gave me the freedom to create and even sell my work for the first time. In those days, working with ceramics was more of a hobby and passion project.
During my junior year, I studied abroad in Seoul, Korea for a year and there I was inspired by traditional Korean pottery, and it planted the seed of wanting to become a full time potter. After college, I went on to work in PR, and it was only in early 2019 that I picked it up again and have slowly transitioned into working with ceramics full time.
How did you find a good studio space to use?
While I was working full time and slowly transitioning out of being a broke college student, I had always kept an eye out for a shared space that met all my qualifications (flexibility in hours, budget, amount of space, etc). And one day I heard that a studio was opening just down the street from my office, so I signed up for a membership immediately. I believe I was their first sign up :)
I know you mentioned you often spend weekends in the studio. How did you make this a habit? Is it hard to keep up sometimes?
Ceramics is something that I enjoy, so going into the studio on the weekends isn’t hard. It almost feels like a treat, since I feel more freedom to create and don’t feel obligated to stay the entire day. When I have a deadline I’ll work at the studio both on Saturdays and Sundays. However, I’ve noticed when I work hard even through the weekend, my Mondays are super rough, so I often take that day to relax and catch up on sleep.
Are there any tools/tips/tricks you use to carve out time for your ceramic practice?
Batch-working has been helpful. Most of my mornings are spent responding to emails and tending to my social media freelance work. Then I’ll head to the studio where I try to focus exclusively to work on my ceramic pieces. It’s still hard because social media is constant, so I will have to pause here and there to do some social media management things. I'm usually working on various projects with different timelines, so I track deadlines, meetings, and anything else I need to remember on my Google Calendar app.
What's been the biggest challenge leading up to the launch of your insta/site and how did you overcome it?
It's a combination of my perfectionist mindset as well as the sheer task of trying to juggle so many tasks. I have a vision on what I would want my Instagram and website to look like, and I struggle with the thought that it’s not good enough or not ready to be revealed.
And on the other hand my launch has been delayed because I am working on other projects outside of ceramics. I’m technically a one woman show. I create my ceramic pieces and I’m the photographer, the website builder, social media manager, etc. I’m still figuring out my rhythm and understanding how I can be most productive and even being more open to lean on other people to help out with some of my tasks.
Thank you for your time, Esther!
xoxo
Your favorite small but feisty writer
Eva
PS If you missed the downloadable wallpapers available so far, click here.
Banner design by Ludi Leiva ✨
Recent Work
Latinx art shows
A quick list of Latinx art exhibitions you can see in the first half of 2020.
On being a Latina writer
My first piece for Electric literature on writing in a time of prejudice + publishing gatekeeping
Black-Owned Etsy shops
Some really cool shops to bookmark for this month and all year long.
What I'm Reading
Articles:
What Counts as a Hobby, and Do I Have Any?
Adventures in Publishing Outside the Gates
Why We Don't See More Pregnant Women in Art History
Painter Shizu Saldamando puts a face to L.A.'s Latinx art and punk scenes
Books:
There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé by Morgan Parker (poetry) // such a great read, with some humor sprinkled in
Initiated: Memoir of a Witch by Amanda Yates Garcia (non-fiction) // a really interesting read on mythology, history and becoming a witch
How We Fight For Our Lives by Saeed Jones (non-fiction) // Such a poetic, authentic memoir that I was sad to finish because it was SO DAMN GOOD
Before and After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum (non-fiction, career) // A really informative (and funny!) book on publishing, writing, and the struggles therein!!
I receive a small affiliate commission if you buy any of the books linked above through Bookshop, which donates 10% of sales to participating indie bookstores and 25% of commission directly to affiliate indie bookstores.
What I'm Listening To:
Longform podcast: Ashley C. Ford on career, love, writing
Opportunities of the Month
The Cabins Collaborative Retreat
Open to artists, writers, musicians, dancers, filmmakers, poets
Application due March 15
Learn more here
House of Blues Music Forward Foundation
Scholarships for undergrad students who have been part of foster system, women pursuing a career in live entertainment and more
Application due March 31
More info here
Hemingway Short Story Contest
Submission due March 31
More info here
Millay Colony for the Arts Composing, Playwriting, Visual Arts, etc Residency
Application due March 1
More info here
Creative Capital Award 2021
Application due Feb 29
Artists in all disciplines (comedy, VR, literary fiction), access to up to $50,000
More info here
UCross Residency Program (Dance/Music, Visual Arts, Screenwriting, etc)
Application due March 1
More info here.
Quote of the Month
"Your future audiences need your work so you need to make it."
— Beth Pickens
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