We recently connected with Dianna Costa-Pisarski and have shared our conversation below.

Dianna, appreciate you joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Many people are paralyzed by fear and change, In many ways I am no different. In my career life I always kept my head down, and went forward. The problem was, I wasn’t moving forward, I was standing in cement.

Let’s start from the beginning, I was 21, and it was a few months before I received my undergraduate degree in art education. I eagerly cold mailed out resumes to neighboring school districts in hopes of landing an art position before graduation. Well, it worked, and out of the gates I got a leave replacement position and hit the ground running. That temporary position ended, soon after, I got a full time art position, and started my graduate school program.

I was ecstatic, I would be set until retirement! It didn’t hit me until I was deep into my thirties, now with well over a decade of teaching under my belt, that this is it. I am here, teaching in public schools until my career is over. I felt it, I knew it, I pushed it down, I ignored it, again and again. What was wrong? Wasn’t this everything I wanted?

What I couldn’t hide from was the dreamer in me coming to the surface. I’d relish my summers off because I could teach my private pottery wheel lessons in my home studio. I could call my own shots, and feel that churning excitement of the unknown in the air. Then every August came, and as I once told one of my most dear high school students Chris, “Unfortunately the pottery lessons don’t get much food and water from September to June” .

Until they did. I’m 41 now, I resigned from that heavy full time public school teaching position. My husband and I sold our house in New York, and we bravely moved to South Carolina with our daughter. We went at it completely alone, we had zero family or friends to welcome us there. I openly chose to work part time at a public school in South Carolina, and exhaust every ounce of my additional energy into my passion project, the ceramic studio. I have an awesome new at home studio that is double the size of my old studio. I have opened it up to teach pottery wheel lessons, and have a rotating schedule of pottery workshop events every season. I love meeting my students and being a thread in the community. Both my part time teaching position, and starting my budding business have brought new light to my soul, light that had been dimmed for many years.

The funny thing about that paralyzing fear, is that is you just shut your eyes, take a deep breath, and just click the word send, things have a way of working out.

Dianna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

About twenty years ago, I got into the world of ceramics while studying my undergraduate degree, and one class in, I was hooked, I provide clay classes and workshops to adults and children over ten years old. I am also a maker, and I sell my own handmade pottery on my website, in studio, and occasionally at craft sales. I also just started designing and stocking logo T-Shirts and glass tumblers.

My business gives people the opportunity to be a maker themselves, and create something functional that they can proudly showcase and use in their homes. I believe in personal attention, attention to detail, and helping students along in their clay journey. Taking a clay class or workshop is therapeutic, and it’s a great opportunity to try to learn a new skill. I believe what sets me apart from others is my keen ability to teach and guide students. My dense teaching history has allowed me to be able to plan, prepare, and execute the clay lessons and content better than most.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

First, one of the best ways I’ve found to source new clients is the tried and true way, word of mouth.

The other success I’ve had has been on social media, posting deliberately at certain times and days of the week which are known as high traffic times.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think what has helped build my reputation in my market has been responsiveness, personal attention, and creating a warm, welcoming environment.      

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dmcostaceramics.com
• Instagram: @dmcostaceramics
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DMCostaClasses

Image Credits
I took all my own photographs.