We recently connected with Sarah Brodeur and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve had the honor of working on is something I call a “Legacy Bowl”. I met the Wagenblast family in the Summer of 2025 at a market in Maryville. I was selling pottery and they were selling the best pico de gallo I’ve ever had. Ever. I found out the father, Lee, started a salsa business to leave his children as he had late-stage cancer. My own father passed from cancer years ago, so the soft spot in my heart ached for them. God kept them on my heart for months and then I had the idea of meeting up with Lee and interviewing him. We talked about his favorite colors, the unique things he was into and if there was anything he wanted to leave as a message for his beautiful little family after he passes. I turned that interview, scriptures from past Christmas cards of theirs and their logo into a huge bowl for the Wagenblast family to make this salsa in for years to come. Lee was received into the hands of The Lord in March of 2026. He left a legacy of laughter, being golden to people, an undying dedication to The Lord and in this little way, I was able to help capture part of that legacy for The Wagenblast family.

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 make ceramic art, and I got into this on an unconventional path that didn’t involve college for the trade. I had a rough childhood, but it made a solid artist as that was the way I was able to deal with what I was walking through. As a teen, I had been convinced that there was no way for me to make a living as an artist, so I went into food service which led to bartending until I was 30. At that point I was an alcoholic atheist who had no idea how to get out of that lifestyle.

And then in 2015, I was in a bad DUI accident and hit a friend who was driving in the other direction. Neither my friend nor I should have walked away from it. Later that day, I was released from jail and found out it was Easter Sunday. I looked to God and said “If you’re real, you can have me. I’m screwing this whole thing up.” I figured it was a great day for resurrections. That began my path with Him. A year later I was baptized. Immediately after I came up from the water, He told me to go to college. I laughed and told Him if this was how He worked and He would have to make it free because student loans were drowning folks. A month later, I talked with a friend who randomly told me that Tennessee was going to start giving away free college in the fall! And with that, I went to college for free on The TN Reconnect program. As a creative, I knew my left brain was stronger than my right, so I chose Business Management. While studying business, someone informed me of an open position at McQueen Pottery, as a production assistant.

I had zero experience in pottery but I showed up for the working interview anyway. It was hands on and interactive. I was able to participate in completing tasks for the role they were looking for. I remember leaving the interview messy, covered in glaze, and thinking that I was going to be really bummed if I didn’t get the job. I eagerly waited a month to get the call – I was in!

After working there for about a year, I was given a 6-week pottery course where I got my hands dirty and got to throw clay on the wheel like a real potter. I had so much fun and it came so naturally that I became addicted! The second time I threw on the wheel, I was already executing more complicated techniques used for making canisters and chip-and-dip platters. After that class, I started teaching. This was the only class I’ve ever taken for pottery.

Over the next 3 years I became the lead glaze and kiln assistant. If I screwed up my role, everyone would have to start those pieces over again. No pressure or anything! Her largest contract is with Blackberry Farms, so I went from not knowing anything about pottery to sharpening my eye for attention to detail that would satisfy their requirements. These just happen to be the aspects of pottery that are not taught in classes.

I graduated from college for Business Management in December of 2019, right before the world shut down. I used the lockdown as an opportunity to focus on figuring out what I really wanted from life and found myself starting to build a little pottery studio in my garage. I started to draw on the pottery with a technique called Sgraffito and this was my full circle moment. By 2022, I had a fully functioning studio, the skills to create pieces, and the degree to run my own business. In June of 2022, I finally opened my business: Tried by Fire Studio.

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

Simply put, buy the art and stop using generative AI.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is to see peoples faces when I make them one of a kind gifts for their celebrations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.triedbyfirestudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/triedbyfirestudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/triedbyfirestudio