We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tristen Blake . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tristen below.
Tristen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
I started my ceramic pipe-making business during the pandemic, but it actually was not established until this year! As a little girl, I always had personal experiences with making jewelry such as earrings, bracelets and small sculptures trinkets. This however, was never adult clay, but specifically for children. Ceramics today for me, clearly is a childhood memory that I never would have imagined would circle it’s way back to me.
Thereafter the pandemic, I decided to really hone in on all of the knowledge I had taken in on ceramics. At the beginning of this year, I invested in my first small scale kiln and a 25 lb block of stoneware clay. 2 Months down the line (March) and I still felt like I had more learning to do, especially when it came to operating a kiln! Which is basically a small oven that heats clay appropriately enough to turn it into stone sculptured art, in the least of science terms (lol)!
After deciding to take a moment to continue my studies, reaching out to professionals and inquiring of clay sculpting classes these past 5 months — I have fully grasped the process successfully firing a stoneware art piece.
My process usually involves sculpting an idea from scratch. Once the artwork has been completed and fully dried out (different pieces sizes have different drying times), it must then be painted either before or after firing. I choose before firing with underglaze paint as a single fire. Once glaze has completed its drying, the sculpture then moves to the kiln phase where it reaches temperatures as high as 2300F to vex the clay. The piece usually requires an hour or two to cool as it’s extremely hot!
I then create a mold from the successful fire outcome to reproduce my ceramic pipes more rapidly as I’m a woman one show right now. On average, I produce 12-15 ceramic pipes a day with my method!
Tristen, 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 name is Blake, I am 28 year old African American female ceramic artist originally from Washington, D.C. my background, actually consists of the fashion industry however art has always been my FIRST love! I guess you can say I’m a fashion designer-turned artist…but I wouldn’t want it any other way!
I got into my industry from having an artist background and sharing apt of core memories with my grandmother who was a fantastic painter. I have recently found the courage only a year ago to finally share my other gift with the world and that is creating handmade ceramic pipes!
What sets my business apart is that nowadays most pipes are made from glass. The process in which one uses clay and other resources from the earth to create a functional smoking pipe requires a different level of love and tenderness! Both processes whether it be glass or clay (stone once fired) are quite tedious and I commend anyone who challenges one or the other.
What I am most proud of so far in my business is that I have acquired so much knowledge to bring to the 420 community in such a unique and creative way! I want people to know that every piece is truly given it’s own special moment to come to life! It’s with my hands and every single finger print inevitably placed in my work that makes everything all worthwhile knowing my energy will be well received my another beautiful being!
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
In the beginning stages of purchasing my kiln, I had absolutely no clue how to work it whatsoever! I thought I knew, but it quickly humbled me like it’s done every ceramic artist in the beginning of their careers. Circling back to that ‘science’ word (lol), there are many different kinds of clay! So in order to successfully fire a sculpted piece, you must do enough research to figure out what degree in temperature your clay must reach in the kiln.
If this is done incorrectly, your ceramic piece will completely EXPLODE in the kiln and shatter into a million pieces. This is usually due to numerous reason. You could’ve fired too quickly or your clay work of art was not completely dried out from its initial building stage and painting it.
I have exploded so many pieces in the past! I have shed so many tears until realizing that THIS happens. To EVERY ceramic artist…it’s the reason why the tenderness is required in the field of work! I think that it would be a much bigger niche if it didn’t require RESILIENCE! I think that’s what I appreciate about being a ceramic artist, it teaches me patience more than anything.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
The best source of new clients for me are platforms that accept the 420 community by allowing me to promote my ceramic pipe artwork. I have also found 420 and art combined events in the past that I have involved my business in as a vendor.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.Blvkhautebox.com
- Instagram: @Blvkhautebox