Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Karin Kraemer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Karin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been 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? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I have made a living being an artist. I had to start by working for other artists and jobs in restaurants, offices, etc at first, also. I got my Masters, which allowed me to teach at colleges, and that was great. Eventually. though, I wanted to make my own work more, and adjunct is a hard way to make a living. When I moved to my city, there weren’t a lot of opportunities to teach. I was also wanting to work on my work more. I started doing fine art fairs, and getting into some galleries. I did many shows for 15 years or so. It allowed me to decide how much to work, and introduced my work to many other communities, and to collectors. My studio was in a historic City Hall, that we turned into a community magnet with a Coffee House, shops, yoga, etc. We started a non-profit Arts Council there, and had programs, a gallery, and many events. This brought a lot of folks to my little shop in my studio. Serving the Community and the artists, made my business do well, and it was great to be part of the energy there.
I saw that bringing folks to me was working well, especially because we are in a high tourist economy here. In 2017, I bought a building in a neighborhood that a bunch of makers and small business owners turned into a Crafts District. It’s changed everything. I am building Equity (rather than paying rent for years) and have a destination gallery that supports 5 artists. There are 4 art businesses in our spot, we all work the gallery and events, and then do our own work too. The sales in the gallery are from our work, and 10 other artists we exhibit. Its been great to be an Art hub in our community.
I wouldn’t change the path, it’s been a fun ride. Hard work, but worth it.
I wish though, that in school, we would be trained to be small business people, I had to learn those skills through trial and error, and basic planning and those skills have come later in life.

Karin, 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 am a potter and tile maker. I make work that is mostly functional, as I love gardening and cooking. I also do custom tile and public art projects for customers and organizations.
My work is primarily Maiolica pottery, a red earthenware clay glazed in hand painted in-glaze maiolica stains (think, Italian or Portugese wares). I also do other high fire work, and Wood fire. I really love making art that people use everday, and is part of their life.
I started getting into selling my work through Art Fairs and exhibitions, and now a lot through my gallery.
My Studio/ Gallery is the Duluth Pottery in the Lincoln Park Crafts District in Duluth, MN. I have 4 artists working there with me. We all work at running the gallery and make our own work as well. Stacie Renne and Janelle Turner-Miller rent space for their print ship in the building. They run their Warrior Printress Letterpress and Design studio. They make Letterpress and other printed artworks, and custom printing for clients. Luke Krisak is my right hand potter. He’s worked for me since 2009, as a studio assistant and partner in clay crime. He went full time artist two years ago, and makes his own pots for shows and galleries.
We have a part time young artist, Charis, who is a couple of years out of college art, and helps around the studio.
We all help make some of our regular wholesale and retail clients’ pots. We make 60 to 100 cups a week for a popular restaurant in our neighborhood, and this pays all the mortgage and loan payments. We have other clients like this, too. This has given me a lot of security, and wiggle room to maintain our place and have employees. As a team, we get more done, and we all have a base to work from that would be too expensive for one artist.
We also have 10-12 other artist’s work in the gallery some on consignment, and some I buy outright. We also feature an exhibition every three months by artist I invite to show.
We open the space to all sorts of events: radio shows, art openings, small music, and meetings for the community. We find that this brings all sorts of folks in, and we all share those connections.
I am involved on a couple of boards and committees in town. All having to do with the creative work in our area.
It’s not everybody’s way to do things, being so involved, but for me it works. I think keeping your knees bent, and being open to opportunities help make you successful.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I was doing pretty well, growing my art, and business just doing art fairs and having a wee shop in my studio. Then, during the 2008 recession, I was losing money doing the usual. I started taking orders for retail and wholesale things in my town, just to manage. It provided a stable base to work on top of, and I realized, local is good! Thee was a bit of a renaissance happening then in small towns and cities in response to the slow down. We all started supporting each other and growing a local appreciation. Duluth changed for the better because of this. I do fewer shows, and concentrate on quality events and experiences at them. I grew a large following here, and that let me have more time to work, and not be on the road all the time. I also started making custom tile projects, and that is so fun!

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish, and have lobbied for, better skills in Art school. We are small business people, have to be, and training in accounting, financial knowledge, making plans to approach banks and grant agencies for funding would help.
I got great help form the Entrepreneur Fund in Minnesota to get my plans together and do loan packaging when I wanted to buy a building. Since then, they have helped me with growing management, budgeting, and planning for my retirement and succession of the business. Look around for these helpers! They are usually free, and often housed within Universty systems. Take yourself seriously, and get assistance with this stuff. Less Stress, and more time for art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.duluthpottery.com
• Instagram: duluth_pottery_art_gallery
• Youtube: Karin Kraemer Play List

Image Credits

all my pix