We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Donte Cuellar a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Donte, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Ceramic art seems relaxing at first sight. The practiced make it look easy, serene, meditative. That’s the lie though. In truth for the first year or so it’s relatively difficult. Learning how to center can at times take a month or two; And that’s it you have a teacher. Like any skill it takes dedication, lots of practice, and an openness to learn. These are basic hurdles. Internal motivators are self driven. The more difficult discussion and reality is that this art form is an expensive and at times exclusionary one. Not by way of personal choice, not many are the gatekeepers of ceramics, but by way of economic, class, and moreover racial inequalities that people have been effected by historically.

The internal motivators that are self driven are hard enough, sure, sure. In reality the art requires key things not afforded to all people or groups throughout time. Time to practice your craft is not plenty when living pay check to pay check, Putting your own kiln in an apartment is an improbable task, one that people with home ownership or at least a little land to build a shack or studio on is no problem for. Glaze and it’s chemistry reaches it’s hand out to people who have been given or paid for the slightest education in chemistry. Money, Time, Land, education, all things that historically speaking have been either kept away from or not afforded to specific groups in America. I can only imagine knowing I have no land because the people I come from were not able to own land, receive the same education, or even read without punishment for a time.

What is most essential? time, space, money, education.
What could have sped it is? time, space, money, education.
What obstacles stood in the way? time, space, money, education.
Everything ells can be pulled from internally or self motivated

This art is internally difficult to some. It is internally and externally difficult for others. These are the true obstacles.

(I’m adding this part in case the above is to edgy for publication. A back up)

I think what is most essential in learning ceramic art is a type of kinship with your body. At first it looks very meditative but upon trying wheel thrown ceramics it’s very difficult, especially physically. Nothing moves the way you want it to, it feels dirty, it’s tiring. In reality when you get a little better you realize your body is the mold which the clay must be formed by. It’s much less that you need to move your hands to form clay and much more that you need to be stable and grounded so that when the clay runs into your hand it’s shape is changed. It’s far less about strength and far more about being stable and unmoving.

Donte, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hey Potters. My name is Donte; Ceramic artist, teacher, YouTube, online educator, and glaze designer. I began my ceramic art journey in college under the tutelage of Yoshio Taylor where soon after the national endowment for the arts funding to schools was reduced… again. So i created a YouTube channel. The goal was to close the gap and side step the barrier to entry ceramic art required, at least from a knowledge stand point. You need time, money, land to build a studio on, access to education, teachers or studios near you (if you are lucky)

Through the channel and community I have inadvertently become a significant free resource and informal teacher for those who cannot afford classes, those who have been let go by a studio due to financial constraints, individuals with no funds for classes, or anyone wanting to practice in remote areas with just a wheel and an internet connection.
I have succeeded in my goal and my community echoes that on a daily basis.

Since starting my goal of bringing basic instructional content to youtube I have amassed over 100k subscribers on youtube and over 10k followers on Instagram. I average 1,000 Subscribers a month, between 90 – 100k views, and almost 10,000 watch hours every month on youtube alone.
On Youtube I now have over 100,000k+ subscribers and Instagram 12k+ followers.

I have a deep passion for creating and designing my own glazes.
In the interest of crafting my own personal recipes I have taken more than my fair share of glaze chemistry classes.
Experience in glaze designing led to selling some of my recipes to one company in particular and at times being a tester or consultant for companies without a team of glaze makers or testers. I also have no problem being brought on as a tester for new products.

Because of the slight success I have found on youtube and social media I have collaborated with a few ceramic companies; Reviewing products and making content for my community.

Services: Youtube Product review:
I do offer a negotiable package of product reviews. This entales a company sending me product along with payment and testing or reviewing the product on my Youtube channel. For an extra cost I will take pictures or make reels to post with the given tags on my social media.

This is the primary reason many companies reach out to me, as it serves as a perpetual advertisement space on the channel. Additionally, I will tag products using YouTube’s system, provided the items are registered on the platform. This feature allows for convenient one-click shopping for my community if they decide to purchase the reviewed products.
This is the primary reason many companies reach out to me, as it serves as a perpetual advertisement space on the channel. Additionally, I will tag products using YouTube’s system, provided the items are registered on the platform. This feature allows for convenient one-click shopping for my community if they decide to purchase the reviewed products.

Workshops:
do offer technique and glaze composition workshops. My community is often interested in glaze composition 101 classes, of which i’m happy to supply and teach. This is easily set up as I am paid for my time and expenses are covered.

Affiliate Code:
I provide an affiliate code package that allows me to partner with a company and its products, featuring a discount code displayed on the screen or in the description for a limited time. This can be structured as either a percentage of the sales from the code used or as a flat fee for a specific duration. Before aligning myself with a company, I prefer to test or experience their products firsthand.

Consultant
: I provide consultations, particularly focused on products related to the ceramic arts. Many companies lack dedicated teams for glaze design, product evaluation, or testing. My experience within the clay community has equipped me to share my knowledge, assist companies in educating their customers, and work towards achieving their product-related goals.

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

Pushing boundaries. I started making my own glazes because I got bored with the conventional bottled glazes and primary colors. I wanted different, unique, designed to my tastes. Pushing the boundaries of color and what I can do with glazes has fulfilled me immensely; especially in my work.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

The problem of over consumption is close to my heart, especially as an artist that makes works for everyday use. if, in the home, we started to buy quality hand made work made for everyday use instead of the 20 plastic cups we hold on the top cupboard we never use because we have 3 stanleys that do a better job of a drink holder I think we would be better off. Closets with hundreds of T-shirt 60% of which has not been touched for over 2 years. We cannot sanctimoniously speak about stopping over consumption while also over consuming. Ceramic artists are by nature very involved with the earth and it’s resources. To support them is to buy and cherish an item you have rather than buying 20 to take it’s place. It;s personalized, made for you, one of a kind.
I don’t even want to get into who is making most of the things we over consume…..

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.earthnationceramics.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earth_nation_ceramics
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EarthNationCeramics/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EarthNationCeramics

Image Credits

All pictures are taken by me- Donte of Earth Nation