We recently connected with Caroline White and have shared our conversation below.

Caroline , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I’ve always been drawn to the way that home objects can influence a personal space. I first learned how to throw on the wheel by taking a class in Boston where I lived at the time. It was in a cute little ceramics studio in Somerville ran by a potter who spent countless years living on Martha’s Vineyard creating her art. I ended up spending nearly every day after work at the studio, in and out of class, learning the craft for countless hours, practicing and then transferring that knowledge to experimentations with form and shape.

Ceramics is a very difficult art form to hurry or rush. The most essential skills needed are patience, the comfort of failing over and over again, and a dedication to learning. The world of ceramics is so expansive that it’s nearly impossible to fit your practice into one box or learn in a finite amount of time.

When you have a full-time job on top of starting a small business, the biggest obstacle is without a doubt, time. But I believe that we can all be multi-hyphenates and don’t have to limit ourselves to just one “thing”. I’m in a constant state of learning.

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’m Caroline, the founder and creator behind Grayson White Ceramics, a ceramics studio focused on handmade everyday tableware for the home. As a little backstory, the name ‘Grayson White’ is a combination of my grandfather’s mother’s maiden name and my grandfather’s last name, nods to my ancestry and two people whose grace, love of family and determination have shaped the woman I am today.

I’ve always been inspired by visual design. While working at a textile distribution company a few years after college, I was making the decision to attend either an interior design program at Parsons or business school. While I eventually chose business school, my love for design remained and led me to ceramics. When I decided to launch Grayson White Ceramics in late 2020, it was extremely reaffirming because I realized that I didn’t have to force myself to choose just one passion in life.

Most of the inspiration behind my work stems from knowing that every piece made will leave the studio and become an essential part of someone’s daily routine. Every piece is made with purpose, representing how I choose to move through life: appreciating the simple moments and unexpected touches of beauty and complexity.

When I’m not busy in my garage studio, I work as a Communications Strategist at the intersection of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and finance ( something that tends to reward me everyday.)

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The unexpected outcomes. For me, the experience of being a creative is completely transformative and a beautiful process that is arrived at through constant iteration: brainstorming color and texture, forming a shape then building the vision through balance and delicate movement. Each piece is made with purpose, representing how I choose to move through life: appreciating the simple moments and unexpected touches of beauty and complexity.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Nothing is ever linear. Believe that it is possible to be more than one thing or occupation. Don’t feel boxed in or forced to pick just one passion. You can have many. I’ve always been able to juggle different passions and I’ve never wanted to limit myself to one path.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.graysonwhiteceramics.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graysonwhiteceramics/

Image Credits
Caroline White