Today we’d like to introduce you to Joey Chessey.
Hi Joey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I first fell in love with clay when I was a junior in high school. Ceramics class was kind of boring… until I found the pottery wheel. It was a match made in heaven! I fell so in love that I aspired to become a self-employed potter as my career, but wasn’t really sure how to go about it. After I graduated, I went on to “trade for space” at Funke Fired Arts (now Queen City Clay) for around 6 months. During that time, I also started working as a studio assistant for Sam Hitchman Ceramics. Being a studio assistant for a full-time potter, I learned the ropes of producing pottery in a high-volume atmosphere, maneuvering the business side of selling art as a career, honing in my creative skills and an overall knowledge of the craft and the materials used in the craft itself. I left that job in 2017 and actually quit playing in clay altogether until later on in 2020. My love for ceramics instantly flowed back into my veins, and my adolescent desire to be a full-time ceramic artist became the forefront on my life goals. Towards the end of 2021, I decided to take the plunge into becoming self-employed, and it has been a WILD ride ever since!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Most definitely not! I think the biggest struggle of this whole endeavor was starting up. I made the decision to become self-employed after I quit and absolutely awful job in sales. My partner really pushed me to do it and to be my own boss because he could see how unhappy I was working under others and how much I could do if I had the reigns of running my own business. When I first started the business, I had very little funds. We converted our garage into the studio, which meant renovating it, insulating, getting electrical out there, etc. Then I had to buy equipment, tools, materials… and that was all before I even started paying for booth fees at events to SELL the work that I couldn’t create without the proper space. I ate through everything in my name but somehow bootstrapped it and got myself to a point where I could be stable again. I also think learning how to save money and be your own financial advisor is another hardship of this career path. I don’t have a defined paycheck every week or biweekly. I make it work, but getting to this point was not an easy path by any means.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work has primarily always been focused on utilitarian, everyday-use items. Think: mugs, utensil crocks, toothbrush holders… those types of items. Now, my work has been moving towards a more decorative, display type of feel – like wall platters, installations, vases, large bowls. I still have a few everyday use items like colanders, appetizer trays, chip and dip platters… but I’ve really been enjoying making more *one off* type pieces and exploring my craft further than what I’ve kind of put myself in a box to believe was “the way” to make a living in the art form.
I’m most proud of my way to adapt to the situations that get out in front of me and to push myself further in the medium that I love. Everyone can buy a mug, but not everyone can buy a large display piece. I believe though, that if you’re excited about the work that you put forward, the patrons who see that work will see the excitement from you and want to know more. The more you can talk about your process, and the more they can understand the steps and the hard work that goes into something of that scale, the more likely they are to fall in love with the art and the artist. As a wise man in Field of Dreams once said, “If you build it, they will come”!
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Most definitely! First and foremost, I have to give the utmost credit to my partner, Tyler. Without him believing in me and pushing me to be the best version of myself that I can be, I would not be here. He also helps with the business as much as he can. He takes care of our Etsy shop, takes all of my photographs, does all of the housework, comes to every art fair with me… the list could go on! I truly could not do any of this without him.
I’d also like to give credit to Sam Hitchman, who I used to be an assistant for. Working for someone who was self-employed in my line of work helped me see the gears of how the business worked, expanded my knowledge of the craft itself, and helped me be more proficient in the medium. Even now that I am self-employed, I use his studio to glaze fire all of my work while I save up to build my “forever studio” and build my own gas kiln. Being able to work for someone who does what you’re wanting to do is an incredible way to learn.
Lastly, I’d like to give recognitions and a huge thank you to all of my family, friends, and collectors who have cheered me on, whether sir be emotionally or financially, by purchasing my artwork. I couldn’t continue on without either of those aspects and it continues to fuel me year after year. The continued support from your loved ones and the collectors who become friends is really an unmatched feeling.
Pricing:
- $30-1000+
- Average price is around $60-125
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sunrysepottery.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/sunrysepottery
- Facebook: facebook.com/sunrysepottery
- Other: https://sunrysepottery.etsy.com/
Image Credits
Tyler
