Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Kang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My parents were never afraid to learn something new. My dad speaks five difference languages, has an impressive list of hobbies (they range from beekeeping to spinning yarn) and has learned how to put in the work to learn a new skill. My mom has an equally impressive list of skills that she has learned from an insatiable curiosity and a satisfaction with the process of making something with your own hands.

My parents’ love for the creative process meant that I grew up watching them try (and fail) as they learned new skills. This taught me to have the courage to try new things and to keep at it even when it looks super crummy at the beginning – but most of all, they taught me to really appreciate the satisfaction that comes from being able to create something with your own hands.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I signed up for a pottery class during covid because I finally had time for it since my kids’ classes had all been cancelled. I had a friend who made and sold pottery and she kept telling me how to run a pottery business while I kept dismissing all of her advice. I just wanted to create and didn’t see any world where I might be interested in selling what I made. (especially because my creations weren’t very pretty at this point). It didn’t take very many lessons before I craved time at the wheel and started to notice the mental health benefits of creating with clay.

Not only did I start pottery in the middle of covid, but we had also just finished living with our kids in a camper for a year and a half while we built our house. I went a tad bit crazy somewhere in there and had no idea that pottery would be so helpful in helping me find myself again.

I think the thing that I love the most about my pottery business is that not only has it helped me gain confidence in my ability to create something that others will treasure, but that the creative process also brings so much joy and peace into my life.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Hands down, I love that people pay me to do something I love to do. It actually just kind of blows me away. Of course, I don’t love packaging or some of the more mundane parts of my business but man do I love playing with clay. If you gave me a free day, I would choose to do that just for the fun of it. But that fact that people enjoy the things I create so much that they want to use it on a regular basis in their daily lives and pay for me to be able to create more things is just a wonderful little arrangement. I love it.

Also, one of my favorite things about the items that I create is using them in daily moments to kind of slow down time. Holding a cup of tea in a handmade mug is so soothing to me after a rough day. Even eating a bowl of cereal in a handmade bowl makes breakfast feel just a little more special to me. So when I hear about a mom of young kids looking forward to her nightly ritual of cuddling up with a mug I made, that makes me so happy. When someone tells me they start off their day with a drink in my mug every morning, it is like my goal has been met. I want my pottery to bring others these little moments of joy.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Ideally, we can all try to support artists more in gift giving, but sometimes our budgets don’t always allow that. I think the best way we can support creatives is through cheerleading. Sharing a post, when we see something cute we take a picture and share it with friends. You might not have the funds to buy it but maybe it is just what your friend is looking for. But even if no purchase comes from it, you have supported an artist. You have told them that you value and recognize the beauty in what they created.

Being an artist is full of so many vulnerabilities. Just knowing that you are seen can get an artist through a lot of doubts and worries. A little bit of kindness and cheering on our neighbors is priceless. The economy is definitely affecting sales this year and as someone who is trying to pay bills, that can be a little scary. As much as an order coming through really makes my day, the other day a person took a picture of one of my mugs in a shop she was visiting. She tagged me and just posted about how cute it was. I got a notification while I was making more of those exact mugs and it totally made my day! Not all support has to be monetary support. Can’t afford to shop small this holiday season? Go walk through a market and tell 10 vendors what you love in their booth! Comment on someone’s reel and feed their artist soul!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://joyemadeclay.com
• Instagram: @joyemadeclay

Image Credits

Rachel Tunnell