We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katie Fox a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Katie , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I’m a very tactile person, most professions I’ve had I’ve always worked with my hands; sign language, being a barista, and now pottery. Now I have my own pottery studio and spend most of my time on the wheel, collaborating with friends, thinking of new ways to push myself. I love making things for friends and family, the ultimate satisfaction.

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?

I first sat down in front of a pottery wheel in 2017. I had been going through a lot of life changes and feeling scattered. A friend of mine who owns a pottery business invited me over one morning and just said, sit down. She handed me some clay and showed me how to center it on the wheel. For those of you who don’t work with Clay, this can be the most challenging step in pottery, I went for it- I fell in love with the process that day. I didn’t feel like I was a “natural”, but I instantly felt a calmness and I felt my mind was quiet for the first time in a long time. Early 2018 I signed up for pottery classes, making things for friends and occasional pop ups. I became enamored with Pottery and took the leap in 2021, I quit my job managing a coffee shop to pursue pottery full-time. It’s satisfying eating food out of a bowl or drinking from a cup you’ve formed. I love the functionality of my pottery, everything I make serves a purpose- which gives me my purpose.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When making the transition to pottery full-time, the pandemic was in full motion and I was tight on funds. I transformed my kitchen into a pottery studio. It was chaos and messy but I knew it was what I needed to do at the time to save money for a studio and giving up wasn’t an option. I threw everything on the wheel and glazed all my pots in my kitchen for full year before I got my own studio.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Sometimes in this line of work it’s easy to compare yourself to other makers- and you can lose your way. I found I was comparing myself to other artists, their style and brand. I started making things that I didn’t enjoy thinking they would sell or that I was making what I was supposed to make. Once I realized I didn’t need to make art for anyone but myself- I decided to stay close to what gave me joy and gravitated toward my own style. I have found that I am happier and have more success when there’s heart behind my work, and that is how I operate in everyday life.

Contact Info:

• Website: Ktfoxpots.bigcartel.com
• Instagram: fox_pots
• Other: Ktfoxpots@gmail.com

Image Credits
First 3 photos by Nick Eubank