We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rachel Lutz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rachel below.

Rachel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

My introduction to pottery was pretty simple: I took a beginner’s class in college as an art elective.

I was not a “natural” potter, if that even exists. Everything about working with clay was challenging for me and I wasn’t thrilled with my pieces, but I did fall in love with the process. After that class, I didn’t think I would pursue pottery again, ever.

I graduated, became a commercial photographer, and landed my dream job. I thought I was done. I found my calling, I was blessed with incredible opportunities and growth, and I settled into a work routine that I loved.

Fast-forward 5 years, I visited a local pottery studio with a friend as a way to pass time. Soon, I became a member there and visited during open hours to work on personal projects. No business ambitions, just as a creative outlet.

I think this is where my story is similar to a lot of other potters; I began making more work because I loved making. It’s not like I needed more pottery or had customers or anything like that, I just wanted to get better. And to do that, you have to make a lot of work.

In time, my house was filled with handmade pottery, my friends and family had graciously accepted pottery from my various skill levels, and I began collecting more pieces at the studio than I knew what to do with. That’s when I started selling it.

My initial hope was to sell enough to pay for materials and a studio membership. I just wanted to keep making pottery and give my work to people that would appreciate it. Pottery is not an inexpensive hobby, so I thought it was a great solution.

Next, I got a wheel at my house. After that, a kiln. All of a sudden, I was running a part-time business alongside my full-time career. I would do photography during the day, then fill my nights and weekends with pottery.

After a lot of reflection, self-doubt, and time, I decided I wanted to reduce my hours at work to accommodate more time for pottery. Before making this leap, I spent more than a year working full-time photo and part-time pottery so I could really test myself. I wanted to know how much money I could make from pottery, how much time I really needed, and what sales methods I needed to pursue. This year was like a test-run so I could confidently let go of half my salary. I tried selling online, at markets, on consignment, wholesale, custom orders… I didn’t say “no” to many inquiries, and I went after as many opportunities as I could.

Now, in 2023, I’m working part-time with pottery and part-time with photography.

That’s a long-winded backstory to say… I’m so grateful for the way I started my creative business. I love both of my jobs, and I’m not sure if or when I’ll pursue pottery full-time. That’s one of the best parts of creative self-employment, isn’t it? Freedom, flexibility, and the ability to spend your time doing what fulfills you.

My story to entrepreneurship might seem overly-cautious, but I am confident I did what was best for me. I had time to improve my craft and consistently produce work I’m proud of. I had a steady, reliable income so I was never pressured financially to sacrifice my work creatively. I was able to try different strategies in my business to see what worked.

I would honestly do it all the same. Having a safety net, or a trial-period, helped me establish good business practices, cultivate strong relationships in my community, and pursue my art without fear of failure.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I make functional, handmade pieces out of my home studio in Shelbyville, Kentucky. I’ve been interested in ceramics since 2014 when I took my first class, but I’ve been pursuing it as a business (and lifestyle) since 2020.

I believe every routine is also an opportunity for reflection, stillness, gratitude, and beauty. I like to think that pottery helps me live more intentionally, and I’m honored to share that with others when I can. My desire is to inspire ordinary, everyday moments.

All of my pieces are designed with function in mind, so all dinnerware is food-safe, microwave safe, and dishwasher safe. Every piece is thrown on the wheel, trimmed, sanded, fired, and glazed by hand.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There’s a lot to choose from, so I’ll just pick one. I like to think that I’m a maker or craftsperson more than an artist, and I think personal growth is extremely rewarding.

As a medium, pottery feels… endless. Sometimes overwhelming. I know I’ll never stop improving, I’ll never run out of new techniques to try, and I’ll never have enough. Clay has a way of humbling you, and I’m grateful for the times when I can step back and appreciate just how far I’ve come.

There are so many tangible ways I can see improvement in my work, and it’s a constant reminder that determination does pay off.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

There are so many ways to support artists.

One obvious way is to purchase their work. Do you need something new for your home? Do you need a gift for an upcoming holiday? Consider handmade. The money you normally spend on mass-produced items can go so much farther with an artisan, not to mention your gift will be more unique and meaningful.

Another way is to help them with their marketing. When you follow, like, and share, you’re putting an artist’s work in front of new potential customers. I can not overstate how much impact you have on the success of an artist’s business – simply by using your time and influence.

Finally (and this one’s the most optimistic), I think we need to shift some conversations about art. Art is a viable career. I know that, you know that, but do we really believe it? The way we talk about art and artists matters. I used to call pottery a hobby when I was making money from it. Why? I was embarrassed. I think I didn’t want to invite criticism or doubt from others, so I pretended not to take it very seriously myself.

If we can all start validating art as a worthy career, we can cultivate more opportunities, more visibility, and more growth potential for artists and creative business owners.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sailorceramics.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/sailorceramics
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/sailorceramics
• Other: www.etsy.com/shop/sailorceramics

Image Credits
Rachel Lutz