Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hannah Serapiglia. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hannah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
I’ve always been a creative soul. As a child, I was constantly drawing, writing, singing, and creating things. Like many of us, as I grew up and prepared for the adult world, I was guided towards “traditional” career paths. I was constantly told by people in my life that the arts make great hobbies, but terrible careers. I did try to swim against the current in my college years, where I studied music and songwriting; but by the time I reached graduation, I still had no resources or guidance on how to actually build a career in that field. As a broke college graduate, I took the first entry-level, corporate job I could find and spent almost 5 years in a career that sucked the life out of me…and all because I thought it was my only real option. When I finally got fed up with the 9-5 life, I began learning and teaching myself photography with the hopes of building a business that would allow me to quit my day job. By this time I was in my mid twenties, and I was determined not to waste any more time in a job I hated. I watched tons of tutorial videos, shadowed professional photographers who were already living the dream, and slowly built my skills. It took me a year and a half to develop a business that was profitable enough (along with the help of a flexible part time job) to quit my desk job. Once I was finally free of my corporate prison, I remember thinking “I wish I gave myself permission to be creative sooner.” I spent years of my life depressed and unfulfilled because I thought that was just the reality of working. Our culture tends to convince us that people can’t make real money in the arts, but that is a total lie. I worked as a photographer for a couple years until I discovered pottery, and then everything changed. I found an art form that I loved even more than photography, so I decided to pivot once more. Now, my pottery business is only 2 years old, and I’m thriving financially and creatively. I think when you find a path that resonates with you and your passions, there is no limit to what you can achieve. If I had that knowledge and audacity at 20, I think I would have been able to skip the corporate nightmare stage and go right to the fun part…but every experience happens for a reason. My journey has made me who I am today, and now I know that no matter what I am creating, I can both support myself financially and enjoy my daily work.
Hannah, 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?
I stumbled upon pottery accidentally. I watched a random YouTube video of a potter throwing on the wheel, and I was instantly intrigued. I signed up for pottery classes at a community studio and never looked back. Today, I am a professional potter and the owner of Willow & Vessel Pottery, a business I started two years ago. I make small-batch, functional pottery including mugs, bowls, vases, and other table ware and decorative ceramics. Every piece is completely handcrafted from start to finish. When you own a piece of my work, you hold a piece of my heart. I have a small studio in my basement where I complete the entire making process. It has been a joy to simply walk down the stairs and immediately be in my creative space!
I think the thing that sets my work apart is the feeling you get when using my pieces. My work is made to feel cozy and familiar. It doesn’t scream for attention; it’s beautiful, but understated. A slogan I’ve been using from the beginning of my business is “pottery that feels like home.” That mantra inspires everything I make. I want my customers to get a sense of comfort and peace from my work.
I’m still very new to the world of ceramics, and I still have so much to learn and explore. So far, I am most proud of my willingness to learn new things and put my work out into the world…that is a scary step for any maker or artist. I’m so grateful for my family, friends, and customers for supporting my dream!
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Our western society puts corporations and mass production on a pedestal, and does little for individual makers, artists, and small businesses. I want people to understand that where they spend their dollar TRULY makes a difference. Every penny we spend is a vote cast. Now I’m not saying to never shop from large companies – that’s nearly impossible in today’s world; however, do try to shop small and local when you can. Look for local businesses when you need something to do on a Saturday. Find an individual artist on Etsy or social media before checking Amazon. When you support a small business or maker, your money is going directly to that individual and supporting your local economy. If we all spend more of our resources with artists and creatives, we will create a more vibrant and connected culture.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
The biggest thing I had to unlearn was that you have to be “born” with certain talents and abilities. That is one of the biggest lies that keeps so many people from letting themselves dream big about what they want to do. We all have the capacity for creativity. We all have the capacity to learn new skills if we let ourselves. I tell my beginner pottery students all the time: you have to be ok with being bad at something. There are very few people who find immediate success in the arts – or any field for that matter. You need to throw a thousand terrible pots in order to create the brilliant ones. You need to draw hundreds of awful sketches, write dozens of terrible poems… you get the point. BE BAD AT SOMETHING. If you can persevere through that stage, there is magic on the other side: new skills, new opportunities, new paths for your creativity. The people who cannot shake perfectionism are the ones who never learn. I learned my creative pursuits by being “bad” at them first. And I’m so glad I didn’t give up on myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.willowandvessel.com
- Instagram: @willowandvessel
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willowvesselpottery
Image Credits
K Jugar Photography