We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Charlotte Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Charlotte below.

Charlotte, appreciate you joining us today. Are you 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?

I have been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work. It took some time to get here, consistency was key.

I got out of college in 2012 and the job market still wasn’t great from the 2007/2008 housing crisis. I also knew it would be a challenge finding work I was interested in with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Sculpture. While I was looking for work, I got a membership at a clay studio to keep me busy. I liked it so much, I purchased a wheel and began working from my apartment. I didn’t necessarily see this new hobby as a job, but I knew I wanted to do something creative with my time that would earn an income.

At this time, I still needed income, and I eventually found a job at a clay supply store. My time at the clay supply store really propelled me, I was able to get discounts on supplies, learn a lot from those around me, and I was able to rent kiln space to begin firing my work. I also picked up an evening job at a retail clothing store, a job that I saw as replaceable. Most of my days were working at the clay store in the morning, going to the retail job at 6pm-close, and making cups in the early morning for an hour or two.

A local coffee shop called Octane was the first place to sell my work. One of the co-owners, Diane Riffel, saw my cups and asked to place a wholesale order from me and pushed me to do my first artist market. This was in the Winter of 2014 and I’ve been building ever since. Once I had enough income to match my part-time clothing retail job, I quit. After I could match my clay supply job, I quit.

Charlotte, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I studied sculpture where I received my BFA at Mississippi State University, and one of my required courses was a Ceramics class. I didn’t really pursue ceramics until I was out of school and had moved to Atlanta where I got a membership at a local clay studio. This is where I started making cups and this was my main work for the first few years of my business. I still make cups and sell online, direct to customer, but I also work with designers and collaborate with other creatives. My work with designers has been primarily light fixtures, tiles, and interior decorative pieces. My collaborative projects have involved limited one-of-a-kind cup collections and a line of candle vessels and incense plate.

I think of myself as a problem solver, and that’s how I approach each project. What I like about ceramics, is that most things are possible, it’s just a matter of figuring out how to get from point a to point b. This process plays well with my curiosity for learning and it’s always my goal to make something functional feel special with attention to detail.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I think one thing I really had to think about and consider is that growth and success do not have to go hand-in-hand. I think that someone who is trying to make a living doing whatever it is that they want to do, will come to a point when they have to decide if they want to hire someone and continue growing. I think there this this idea, and maybe it was just me, that if you’re not growing, that you’re not succeeding. I don’t believe this. You can choose where you want to be with your business and figure out how to sustain it, and that maintaining can also be success.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Buying local and supporting artists can be an investment, so I understand the hesitation. I personally try to be mindful of my purchases and consumption. This makes it easier to pick up something here and there, and I never regret it. Beyond purchasing, it can simply be sharing with your friends. Also, making an effort to go to gallery openings or seeing a play or performance on a night out.

Contact Info:

• Website: charlottesmithstudios.com
• Instagram: @charlottesmithstudios

Image Credits
IMG_0106 Dennis Johnson IMG_0113 Dennis Johnson