We recently connected with Hope Rodenbarger and have shared our conversation below.

Hope , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

As an artist, one of the main components to creating is going from a mere idea or sketch into the final product. Whether it is working through kinks or bouncing different ideas, one’s art is constantly changing. However, as a small business owner, going from an idea to the execution of said idea involves a major rollercoaster of processes. In life, let alone as an entrepreneur, we would love to get from Point A to Point B in one single straight line, yet life happens in the complete opposite way.

Ideas for me started with the societal standard of going to college and taking on some high-esteemed career. But my own idea of self changed and thus did the trajectory of my life. I have always been an artist and have always enjoyed teaching and mentoring others. One day in the spring of 2021 I decided to just take the leap. I wish I could say there was some specific event that brought me there, but one conversation had me thinking I wanted to make a change in my life. So, I started Moonstruck Mud. It started with small batch pottery that I made after working my full-time job. I would take the small amount of items I made and sell at one of the local farmer’s markets. Slowly it started to gain more traction, I was producing faster and selling more and more products. But the sole focus of selling wasn’t enough to keep my satisfied. So my idea of art and entrepreneurship changed.

My small business idea as an artist was starting to evolve into new forms. For me, art is just as much about self-expression and discovery as it is about the final product. I wanted to find a way to take this art to other people. There is so much power in expressing oneself and inviting a bit of creativity into your life. Thus, I started hosting small workshops and birthday parties where individuals can create a completely unique handmade ceramic project and glaze it to their liking. In late September of 2023, I decided to purchase a small school bus. Over the course of the next few months I plan to completely convert the bus into a mobile ceramics studio where creativity and self-discovery is at the fingertips of those in the community.

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.

Who am I? That is such a big, multi-faceted question! To tell you about myself, I feel as though I must begin with a story that is foundational to my own self-discovery.

Growing up, my mom worked as a teacher at the same elementary school I attended. While most students considered lunch and recess their favorite times of the school day, mine had always been art class. Over the last few years, I have started to ponder a vivid memory I have from my time in elementary school. One which I now consider to be a pivotal moment in my life. I could not tell you what the project was or why we were making it, but I drew a picture. My picture was as creative as any seven year olds picture could be. I was walking my dog outside on a leash. In typical youthfulness, my hair was colored in a bright neon yellow to reflect my blondness. The sun shined from the corner in tandem, its light reflecting on vivid green grass. But it wasn’t about the picture, and rather about how it was received. Upon seeing my work, my art teacher immediately sent me to my mom’s office so I could show her my masterpiece.

That is the first memory I have associated with being an artist. For a long period of time, I lost that identity. Part of me still spent time creating and making, but much of my focus was elsewhere. My last year of high school, I found part of myself again in my high school art class. I purchased my own wheel and kiln and fell in love with ceramics. At the time little did I know it was so much more than a hobby. In college I fell out of myself again and sluggishly suffered my way through biochemistry courses in the hopes of pursing medical school. It wasn’t until my 3rd year of college I recognized how unhappy I was. I completely shifted my perspective with the help of an entrepreneurship program at my college called Engler. I was blessed with some pretty incredible people who helped show me who I could and knew I wanted to be.

Since then, Moonstruck Mud has kickstarted itself. I sell my own ceramics and most recently have started teaching classes to others in the hopes of helping them ignite their own passions. My hope is to show everyone that we all have some creativity within us and all we have to do is invite it in.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

In life we are constantly taught to follow a certain pathway in life. Grow up, graduate high school, go to college, graduate with a degree in something useful, find a job, get married, have kids, and retire. So we find ourselves constantly comparing ourselves to our peers. With the advancement of social media we are even comparing ourselves to people we don’t even know! As an artist it’s really hard to create without criticism. The best art is made when your brain is allowed to wander and make mistakes. I often forget that my art stands alone and doesn’t need to be compared to other ceramicists I follow on the internet. They use completely different processes and styles compared to mine. Some may have more technical training or may be older. So one of my biggest achievements in my personal life has been to learn that I can make mistakes and fail because my journey as an artist is completely separate from those I see online. My art speaks for itself and is just as technically well done as well as creative compared to my peers.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I have one book that I read in college and always find myself referring back to. Chop Wood Carry Water, is a short book filled with small short stories, each focused on one specific lesson. Not only is it a quick and fast read, but it also has great separation in chapters to be able to go back and ground yourself as well as your values into.

Contact Info:

• Website: moonstruckmud.com
• Instagram: @moonstruckmud
• Facebook: Moonstruck Mud