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

Meghan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I have been a potter for close to 20 years. It has been my full time profession for the last 10 of those years. I started making and selling my work right out of college. My wheel that I still use everyday was a graduation gift from my grandma Edith.
Potters require some space to work and that was always a challenge. Every rental my husband and I rented needed a clay room. My studio set up has evolved from a kiddie pool in a spare room (so I wouldn’t destroy the carpet), to sheds, sunrooms, basements and barns. We finally built my dream studio last year on our property.
I always had a part time or seasonal job to pay the bills but I was able to focus on pots full time when I started doing wholesale. It allowed for me to not have to rely on art fairs for my sales and have a more reliable and consistent income.
I’m not sure if I could have sped up the process. I’ve gained a lot of knowledge from my winding path, I don’t think I could have made it here without so many steps.

Meghan, 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?

My start in the arts was very early. My whole family is “artsy” and very supportive of my creative endeavors. Art supplies were always the first thing on the wish list for birthdays and Christmas and they were happy to keep me well stocked. This allowed me to try out many media before I landed on clay. I ended up going to Michigan State University for art education. While there I was able to take some clay classes and I found my niche. My professor told me I was at risk of becoming a potter instead of a teacher because I was making so many extra pieces for the fun of it. I guess I proved him right.

I focus now on pots to be used in everyday life. I love it when a customer tells me my mug had become their favorite or they identify with one of the critters on a vase. I’m delighted that a piece made by my hands can speak to someone so much that it becomes a family collection or heirloom.
The designs I make are all inspired by the flora and fauna that surrounds my home in North Carolina. The creatures I carve and glaze onto the surface of my pots all live around my studio. I get to look out my window and see my muses and models everyday. I think what sets me apart from other potters is the amount of detail and the vibrant colors I get from my glazes on my porcelain clay. It’s time consuming to make but it’s what I’m known for and I find the process very satisfying.

What I’m most proud of in my career is being a member of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild. It’s the oldest Craft guild in the country and I’m honored to be one of its members. What I’m proud of in my personal life is that my daughter gets to see her mom working hard at what she loves everyday. And I’m keeping those art supplies well stocked for her to. She’s even been helping out in my studio for a few years.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

There are so many ways! Firstly I would suggest supporting your local art teacher. I taught art at a middle school and I can tell you they need funding! Ask them if they have a wish list or just hand them a gift card to an art supply store and help them buy the tools they need to get the future artists going! Art in the schools is so important. It teaches kids to see the world differently, and it is too often the first to go when budget cuts happen.

Secondly, buy art from local artists and craftspeople. It could be at an outdoor art fair, a craft gallery, or a student sale at an art center. Every time you buy from an independent artist it puts food on their family’s table.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a potter would have to be the flexibility of it. I have so many choices in so many areas.

I’m my own boss, so I can take time for my family. I work from home so I’m home when my daughter gets out of school.

I also have choices in what to focus on everyday- is it throwing pots on the wheel or glazing or slab work? Not everyone gets to make a choice in how they spend their working hours and I’m grateful to have that.

My choices extend to how I want to sell my work. I’m currently doing more wholesale through galleries But in the past I have done shows and fairs, as well as done more online and commission work. There are a lot of directions I can take. It just depends on what suits my life at the moment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Meghanbernardpottery.com
• Instagram: @meghanbernardpottery

Image Credits

James St. Clair Photography