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

Hi Anna, thanks for joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

It was incredibly exciting and encouraging to make my first ceramics sale!

At the time, I was still learning the craft but already felt a strong desire to continue with ceramics, possibly even as a career. However, I doubted whether it was realistic and had no idea where to begin. That’s when my therapist suggested I post available pieces on my Instagram stories to generate interest and gather feedback. First, I had to quiet the impostor syndrome that raised questions like, ‘How can I sell my pottery after only two months of working with clay?’ Once I managed that, I went ahead and announced that my work was available for sale and posted it in my stories. Within 15 minutes, my first two vases were sold, and a few more pieces followed within 24 hours.

My followers were my first clients, and I’m incredibly grateful for them! I only had a few hundred, but they knew my story and had watched my transformation from a homeschool mom to an artist. I felt over the moon with excitement and motivation to keep going.

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.

I stumbled upon ceramics quite unexpectedly at the age of 41, a surprising twist in my otherwise art-free life. Never before had I ventured into any artistic hobby, nor had I practiced art in its traditional forms.

What I have always had is a need for aesthetics in my everyday life.

I can’t always find myself surrounded by beauty, but now I can create it every day myself in my studio..

Ceramics for me is not just a way of making a living, it’s a way of making a life and communicating with the world. I invite you to experience my world of creating ceramic artwork as I walk you through my practice and processes.

I create organically shaped vases, sculptures, and ceramic decor objects. Most of my work is unglazed to show the beauty of natural clay, its color variations, and its textures.

My work holds a touch of my hand, reflected in its imperfect shape and the occasional fingerprints left on the clay body. It’s important to me that the audience feels the human hands that crafted the object.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

My Instagram recently grew from a thousand followers to almost 17K organically. I had a long love-hate relationship with social media, but I’ve finally reached a point where I can enjoy it and watch it grow.

What I’ve learned from growing my audience is that authenticity is key. I started sharing my artist journey from the moment I began learning ceramics, a time when I didn’t yet dare to call myself an artist. I shared both struggles and successes openly. It wasn’t easy, especially as an immigrant with imperfect English, but I decided to go for it and build my online community anyway.

Early on, I decided I wouldn’t just post my work and process, but also the other things that inspire me and are part of my life. For me, this includes aesthetic places, objects, and small sustainable brands. I also share snippets of my routine, like hikes, family time, podcasts, and books I enjoy. I love good food, so I often post about restaurants and specialty coffee shops around LA that I’ve enjoyed.

This approach keeps me from burning out and ensures posting never gets boring. It also helps my audience get to know me better, building a unique connection and a personal brand.

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

As an artist, I get to express my vision and aesthetic ideas, and share my messages with the world.

In a time of mass production, I have the privilege of creating timeless pieces that can be passed down to future generations.

I get to contribute to the beauty of the world. Every time I receive a message from a client about how much they enjoy their vase or sculpture, or when I see one of my pieces in its new home, my heart fills with joy and gratitude.

I also have a platform to share the deeper messages behind my work. In my art, I explore themes of female identity, struggles, and perseverance, with a focus on the transformative journey women undergo as they shed societal conditioning and embrace their true selves. These reflections emphasize the resilience and evolution of the female body and spirit throughout this process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://annashipulina.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annashipulina_ceramics/

Image Credits

Annie Laurie Malarkey – two photos of me in the studio