Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Debora Nascimento. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Debora, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I started my journey as a pottery instructor when I was 22, I had the opportunity to teach at a studio in Miami that I really admired. This was my first time teaching pottery and I wanted to do a really good job. I practiced throwing on the wheel a week leading up to my interview & when it was time for the interview, I felt as though I had practiced just enough to seem like I knew what I was doing. I got the job & began teaching one class per week. I worked here for about two months before the pandemic hit & the studio closed down. I felt as though my opportunity to be a pottery teacher was over with the lockdown & the studio closed. I used my savings to buy my own wheel and began to practice more at my home during the pandemic. I would have close friends come over & I would teach them how to throw on the wheel in the comfort of my home. Six month after covid hit, I found a job posting for a head potter position at a flower shop. I got the job & began creating handmade vases for the flower shop. This job challenged me in so many ways, but it taught me how to singlehandedly produce large quantities of ceramics.for a business. i had the opportunity to work at a few other pottery studios as a teacher where I learned more & more from the students I had the honor to teach. Each studio taught me valuable lessons that made me a better teacher. In 2022, I wanted a larger space to work out of because I loved the idea of a home studio. My best friend and I that were living together at the time sat down & began visualizing exactly what kind of home we wanted. I wanted a coral colored house with ivy all over the front, with a studio space inside & two huge mango trees in the back. A month later, we found the exact house that we had visualized together & moved in. I got my studio space all set up, then began inviting close friends to take one on one classes with me. november 2022, i hosted my first workshop in my home, which was a huge success! in December 2022, I left both of my jobs to focus on my own studio full time. My idea was to create an intimate space, where people can truly learn how to create pottery in the comfort of my own home. I wanted a welcoming space that allows students to feel at ease while learning something new and that’s exactly what I’m still doing to this day with Waavy studio!
Debora, 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?
My name is Debora Nascimento, I’m a 26 year old ceramicist that is originally from Naples, Florida born in Cuiaba, Brazil. I got into ceramics in high school. I took a ceramics elective class in 10th grade & never looked back. I loved this new and exciting medium that challenged me through each step. I have always been artistic, I played many instruments & used to paint before i found ceramics. Ceramics ignited something new inside of me and I really enjoyed learning this craft. At Waavy Studio, I offer private classes and I host all-inclusive community events. The main thing that I want students to get out of this space, is that they are capable of anything they set their mind to. I wanted Waavy studio to be a safe space for anyone looking to learn the craft with an experienced instructor who cares deeply about their creative journey.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I had the opportunity to teach at many studios in Miami, with the intention of helping every student feel comfortable enough to learn. I became a regular in the pottery community by showing up for other ceramicists in the Miami area. I pride myself on being an adaptable teacher that can alter my teaching style to cater each and every student that comes into my studio. I look forward to meeting new faces and learning more about the students.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Last year, I would host a monthly event called, “The community ceramics social” which would have about 25 people attend every first Thursday of the month, We would have a live dj play some good tunes while students had the opportunity to create ceramic pieces. It was a fun event that gave everyone the opportunity to make new friends while learning something new together, We did about 6 of these events and in November of 2023 I realized that I began feeling a bit burnt out from these events. I had to really be real with myself & come to terms with the fact that I needed more help. I decided to start a volunteer program where students could come and volunteer in exchange for free entry to events & classes. Adding the volunteering into the studio helped me so much and gave students the opportunity to learn how to work with ceramics in a different capacity.
Contact Info:
- Website: waavycreation.com
- Instagram: @waavystudio