Today we’d like to introduce you to Mackenzie Graham
Hi Mackenzie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I wish I had a more inspirational backstory for my ceramics business, but I think it can truly be summarized into one sentence – It was an accidental ADHD hyperfixation that blossomed into a new passion.
I am a 90’s kid who grew up in rural Ohio. As a child, living in the middle of nowhere before the dawn of home internet, there wasn’t a lot to do. So, I spent most of my time outside. I’ve always enjoyed “dilly-dallying” around in the outdoors. I hunted 4-leaf clovers obsessively, searched for anthills, rescued toads from the perils of the basement window-wells, and hiked every small corner of land that I was allowed to be on. When it was time to come inside, I loved to read. My parents had a full set of the World Book Encylopedia, where I would go and read about the things I’d seen outside. I learned that 4-leaf clovers come from a genetic mutation, that ants and bees have extremely interesting social hierarchies and behaviors, and I read about every life-cycle of every animal or bug I encountered outside. From a young age, I’ve appreciated that there are entire worlds to see, right underneath our nose, if you just take the time to look.
I absolutely loved making art growing up, and I was pretty good at it for a kid. During high school, I thought about going into art for a career, but I didn’t think that I was ‘good enough’, that I should pick something more “stable” – I ended up going into the medical field and eventually became a Speech Language Pathologist, and spent some time working specifically with children who needed assistive technology to help them communicate. Working in healthcare is both heart-breaking and rewarding, but I burnt out – HARD – and quickly. I didn’t have any creative outlets and I realized that was really contributing to my burnout, so I began doodling in notebooks again, painting here and there, nothing crazy.
In 2021, I became interested in glass work and ceramics. I thoughtfully considered buying a kiln and a wheel for about 3 weeks, which is about 4 years in ADHD time. I desperately needed a hobby, and I thought my family would also enjoy the opportunity to try out ceramics. So, I found an old kiln on Facebook Marketplace for $100, found a wheel at a good price, and just went for it. Here I am, 3 years later, still doing it. I love it.
Prior to buying a kiln, I had no ceramics experience, other than an art project or two during elementary school. I’m completely self-taught. There are many online communities with experienced potters willing to share their experience and advice, which was a huge help for troubleshooting when I got stuck. I think I enjoy ceramics so much because there is always something new to learn, and there is always a way to improve what you made the next time you try making it.
My artistic style is heavily influenced by my childhood experience. If you look at my work, it heavily features elements of nature, and often incorporates my funny, quirky sense of humor. I feel my life has come full circle because I went from a kid playing in the dirt to an adult making things out of dirt.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Learning ceramics in itself isn’t an easy road, but it’s worth it. It’s incredibly rewarding to look at my work now and see how far I’ve come in the last 3 years. Every mistake I’ve made in ceramics has taught me how to better execute and refine my techniques. I can’t wait to see what my work looks like in another 3 years.
I think it goes without saying that starting a business and putting in the work to make it successful is incredibly difficult, no matter who you are. I see similarities with making clay- I’m learning from my mistakes, and moving towards where I want to be (slowly).
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I mainly make ceramics. I am known for whimsical, sometimes outlandish pieces that feature elements of nature. My sense of humor comes through my pieces and people often smile, laugh, or really enjoy the “cuteness” of my artistic style. Technically, I am not a great drawer or painter, but my use of color and the composition of my designs are pleasing and compliment my artistic style. A fan favorite design that I make is “screaming possum” – sometimes people literally stop in their tracks and yell “oh my god” when they see a possum looking at them from my pottery. I am most proud of my pieces that elicit responses like this.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
My current favorite books are any and all field identification books for mushrooms.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Pointydogarts.etsy.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/pointydogceramics
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092392371789
- Other: https://tumblr.com/blog/blogofpointydog
