We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kelsey Melville. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kelsey below.
Kelsey, appreciate you joining 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 took my business full time during the pandemic, with all of us working from home, it gave me more time to devote to my art and business, which had always been a side hustle. As my business grew and sales picked up, I realized I could really do this full time! I quit my job in September 2021 and fully dedicated myself to running my ceramic business. It was so exciting to commit all of my energy to my true passion, a life long dream! But running your own business and being self employed comes with it’s own challenges, it is in no way “easy”, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication and you really have to believe in yourself and what you are doing. Despite the challenges, I love the freedom and control that comes with working for myself, everyday I go into the studio and start my day I am overwhelmed with gratitude for being able to take this path in life. My business grew organically over time, I didn’t force it, I remained committed and eventually that paid off. I personally wouldn’t want to speed that process up, and still don’t. I never want to run a huge company or be famous, I just want to have sustainable growth that allows me to live the life I want to and provide for my little one that’s on the way!
Kelsey, 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 grew up in North Carolina, and moved to Seattle WA with my husband in 2016. I studied art in college, receiving a BFA in ceramic sculpture from Appalachian State University. After graduating I pursued a career in the art museum industry for about a decade. I continued to make art on the side that whole time, exploring different mediums like painting, jewelry making, and collage. But I hadn’t touched clay since college and really missed it, I didn’t feel connected to any other art medium. So when we took the leap to move to Seattle, I decided to find my way back to ceramics. I started slowly by taking classes at local studios, and it felt like being reunited with a beloved friend ,working with clay just felt right! From there I created a tiny home studio in the kitchen of our studio apt, and as my side hustle continued to grow, I eventually took over the whole living room. During the pandemic, when I decided to quit my job and take my ceramic business full time, I took the leap and got my very first studio! It was so thrilling to have a dedicated space to create and run my business. I’m a pretty introverted person who cringes in the spotlight, so having my own space was very important, but it also means I struggle with selling and marketing myself, I’d say that is the most challenging part of running a business and something I am actively working to improve.
My work is inspired by a love and appreciation of nature, it’s actually what brought us to Seattle, the natural beauty here is astounding, we are surrounded by mountains and water from every angle, it’s an outdoor lovers paradise. Nature is my version of religion, it provides calm and clarity, awe and gratitude and an endless source of inspiration. If I am ever feeling frustrated or down, getting out into nature quiets my thoughts and soothes my soul. I am drawn to clay for this reason, it comes directly from nature, it’s literal mud! All of the pieces I create highlight the natural beauty, rich textures and vast color range of raw clay, I don’t use a lot of loud or colorful glazes, but draw simple designs inspired by nature on the natural clay tones. I worked at a historic glass conservatory here in Seattle for a few years, and being surrounded by all the plants inspired me to make planters, which is now my biggest seller. I also make mugs, tumblers, a line of sculpted ceramic baskets, drift wood wall hangings, incense holders and snakes! It’s fun to continue to explore new ideas, but it can be challenging to dedicate time to exploring when you have orders that take priority. Right now I do a lot of wholesale because I love working behind the scenes, but I do hope to grow my direct to consumer sales and build more community and engagement with customers. That’s what’s great about doing markets, all of the wonderful people you get to meet!
This year my husband and I are hoping to make a move back east to NC to be closer to family. So many priorities changed during the pandemic, and its increasingly hard to be across the country from the people you love the most. We are also expecting a little one in September, our first child, being pregnant is an extremely surreal experience, but I love the connections I am making with other mothers throughout the process. I Hope to find and build a strong community in NC, and look forward to having a fresh start with my business and doing some things differently; like striking more of a balance between wholesale and direct to consumer sales, being less isolated in my studio, building a community, making time for marketing and growing my business, while also exploring new ideas and making time for play!
Beyond my love for nature, I love music, specifically hip hop, Outkast is my favorite! I love going to art museums, going on long walks, cooking and baking, Italian food and pastries, going on adventures, hiking, snow shoeing, cabins in the woods, reading, getting cozy by a fire, traveling, animals (specifically cats), formula one and basketball. I grew up watching the Simpsons, love cartoons and I sci fi movies, alien is my favorite! Above all else, I enjoy laughing and being surrounded by the people I love.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is pursuing what you love every single day. It’s not having any regrets, never having to ask your self “ what would have happened had I chased my dreams?” It’s waking up everyday and having control of what your day looks like. It’s not having to answer to anyone but yourself; creating your own schedule, your own drive, your own self discipline, no one is making you do this, no one is waiting to see if you show up late or do the work except for yourself. It’s taking pride in what you do and believing in your pursuits. It’s never having to wake up with that sick feeling of having to go to a job that you absolute loath, or working for a boss who doesn’t respect of value you. It’s the freedom to say yes or no when you want. It’s the freedom to make your own choices and stand behind them. It’s the freedom to take a day off to go to the museum or on a hike because you need some inspiration!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
What drives me the most is knowing that we only have one life to live, this is it. I don’t want to waste the limited time I have on this earth doing something that makes me miserable, I want to feel excited and passionate everyday. I don’t want to wake up 30 years from now full of regret that I didn’t pursue my dreams while I had the chance. Many people find this to be morbid, but I think about life and our inevitable death every day, but for me having an awareness of our impermanence and limited time is motivating, it helps me to put things into perspective. Would I rather work a job I hate and have more money, or do what I love and live a life that fulfills me day in and day out? I see beauty in the impermanence, it allows you to decipher what is trivial vs meaningful in life.
Contact Info:
- Website: Kelseymelville.com
- Instagram: @melvilleceramics
Image Credits
Nick Pironio