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

Aleisha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

It all began in 2018, I was fresh out of college and decided to start a hobby selling handmade ceramics under the name Utility Objects. At the time I didn’t have the resources to rent a studio space or fire pottery so I invested in a potters wheel to make work and fired unfinished pots through social media arrangements. The work produced then was just for several charities, pop-up markets and mainly to practice more and figure out my style. A year after, I started a mentorship program at a local arts center, began teaching and quickly decided to take a risk to start my own business designing pottery fulltime.

From the moment I decided to go on such an unfamiliar venture I was unsure of many things. One being, the where?, I didn’t know where I would find a studio space to work out of. Secondly, When? I didn’t know when I would get some revenue in, since at the time I quit two of my part-time jobs ( bartender and pottery assistant) which were both on the frits due to the pandemic. It was a very scary and stressful time, but luckily my husband gave me some suggestions of artist to contact and I found a lead on a studio and quickly set it up as best as possible. I did have to fundraise for some equipment to get started but after I raised the funding I was ready to begin producing work. Thankfully, I partnered with large brands such as West Elm and Food52 during my beginning stages, because it really helped kickstart a constant flow of production for me. Now I’m able to create pottery and make a living doing what I love everyday.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Aleisha D. and I am the owner and production designer of Utility Objects based in Atlanta, GA.

I was introduced to ceramics in college, I went to Georgia State University for a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in photography and ceramics was just an extra class I took for credits. Although, I was terrible at it I loved working with a tactile art medium and kept doing it. I even signed up for more classes afterwards and just couldn’t stop going into the clay studio after hours to throw.

As a pottery production designer, I manufacture handmade pottery online and wholesale for both local and regional small businesses. Being a handmade creative I also make custom orders as well, helping customers design a specific item that suits their lifestyle or home. I’m very proud to share that all the work made at Utility Objects is made by hand and everything I use is sustainable from the product to shipping materials. Therefore, minimizing plastic use and waste.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to grow my business by getting a larger production space and hire an assistant.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding thing about being a creative is making functional handmade pottery that people really enjoy and appreciate.

Contact Info:

• Website: utility-objects.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utilityobjects

Image Credits
Robie DuChateau