We were lucky to catch up with Caymen Hewitt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Caymen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I was recently honored with the task of mending/rehabilitating a clay piece that was made by a teenager who tragically passed away. It was an honor that the family trusted my skills with this very special piece. Working with clay and ceramics is very sensitive sometimes in the post firing process, meaning there is a potential to crack and destroy the piece further. I was able to successfully put a broken piece back together for the family. That particular project among many others where I am simply included in the preserving or making of a special family heirloom is always the most meaningful to me.

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 am simply an artist who beats to my own drum. My goal was to create a space for other artist and individuals who beat to their own drum could come to create. My studio is specific to pottery painting and I encourage all walks of life to come attempt to create in my store. My encouraging words seem to be the most beneficial to those painting pottery for the first time. My guidance and skills however is also important to those returning as practiced pottery painters. I wanted my space to feel inviting and welcoming to anyone willing to dig deep into their soul and paint what they see. I try and answer any and all questions and be of aid with the process in anyway I can, That can sometimes mean I am hands on with you and your project, helping you build confidence. That also sometimes means I am only an observer while a patron creates magic. I am most proud of the volume of returning painters in my studio. Anyone can walk in off the street to paint and have a good time however I find so much joy in seeing their face returning to my studio to paint a separate item. Hopefully due to the due diligence my staff and I provide to customers, my passion is now potentially a passion of their own!

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

A strong mentor is such a solid foundation in the early stages of building a brand. I wish I had known someone in the creative field to help me launch the directive of my studio in a creative and much more immersive way. I have strong female business woman in my life who have been immensely important to the success of my business as strictly a business according to paper and numbers. Don’t get me wrong, without their knowledge and support my studio would not exist however other aids would have equally benefited my success in a different fashion. Resources such as creative group sessions/creative business blogs/creative boards for those launching a brand who are artists and creative in the way that they operate daily. I don’t visualize the same way a business minded person does and I felt little connection to the mentor ship of how to successfully run a profitable business rather than resources who helped guide me with the creative aspects of launching a business, the marketing and imagery, that is a very small piece that would have had a large impact I believe.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Support local ,support, support! Some of the most talented people I meet are the ones at small art fairs on sidestreets on weekends as a side hustle. If their talent could be discovered and properly appreciated more people would be willing to find and discover their inner creative artist and go for it. For fear of only ever being the side street artist, we will continue to support the megatron of marketing and ad agencies that is this country. Supporting local artists by allowing them to sell their work at prime time agencies and online with social media and giving them the opportunity to make a living off what they do best. Can you imagine if the local artist with graphic design work (made after hours) were to be published and marketed with huge brands like Coca-Cola? The progress would explode, any one willing to try would be accepted and if it wasn’t a fit for the particular designated art it could be fit for millions of other things. New websites popping up daily giving artists the ability to plaster their art onto products to be sold to customers globally. Smart Water has done a brilliant job recently of giving their bottles ad space of artists ‘not’ on the rise. I find we have to support the under dog and recognize the talent that exists below the board meetings on 5th avenue.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.the painted teacup.net
• Instagram: @paintedteacupfrisco