We had the good fortune of connecting with Krista Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Krista, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I love making art so I thought I’d try my hand at selling it, too. Also, I don’t work well working for other people, I was meant to be my own boss. Those two thoughts snowballed into starting my own business selling functional ceramics. Once I had my own studio to create at home, I knew I wanted to share it with other people. There are so many barriers when you are trying to work with clay: finding a studio that is accepting new students, having the space and facilities to make and fire your work, money, the list goes on. I share my studio with two other members who work independently with some guidance here and there. I teach introductory and on-going classes with kids and adults, anyone looking to get their hands in some mud and get creative. Now, my business is split between making and teaching and I love the balance and the look on someone’s face after they throw their first pot!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My goal is to express fleeting moments of grace and wonder through handmade pots. I make beautiful, functional pottery intended to be used throughout the day. A coffee mug to hold and cherish while enjoying your morning ritual. A teapot to fill, creating a getaway to commune with yourself or around a table of friends and conversation. My pots are thoughtful pieces to enhance the rhythm of your life. They are a reminder of all the pleasant and sincere moments in domesticity, connecting the spirit of a handmade object to the mindfulness behind sharing a meal and nourishing your body. Pottery is a celebration of life, weaving together my desire to create beautiful objects and to use them in my daily life.

Most often, I hear how mechanical my work looks and I guess that is what sets me apart from others. I laugh because it is anything but mechanical. It is many long hours in the studio with my two hands and heart. I’m really looking forward to my first solo exhibition at Good Earth Pottery in Bellingham, WA next March. It will be my most comprehensive collection yet, exploring teapot sets and celebratory table settings. Think Mad Hatter tea party!

Ceramics has not been an easy road. Not being able to own property in an expensive city makes it even harder. You can’t just hook up a kiln in your 2 bedroom apartment. I worked an unpaid assistantship for two years to gain the experience, mentorship and work in a community of like minded artists. It was so stressful and a hardship on my family. I’m glad I did it and I see the many ways it has made my life and practice more vibrant, but at the end of the day people deserve to be paid for their labor. Artists need to be paid for their labor to be able to set themselves up for a sustainable practice, business and the quality of life that everybody deserves. I’m forever grateful to my brother-in-law, Tobias Cortese, who has welcomed my family and business into his home, let me turn his garage into a studio and supports this wild ride of running a clay studio.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love Seattle, or Washington for that matter for all the green spaces. Even in the thick of the city you can get lost in one of Seattle’s beautiful parks. Discovery park in Magnolia during the summer. You can get lost for hours in the vastness of this park, run into some blueberries and also head down to the beach to walk along the water. Ravenna park is also gorgeous with a running creek winding through it. I love to grab a cup of coffee at Herkimer Coffee, walk through the park working up an appetite for Xi’an Noodles for some Chinese street food, their hand-pulled noodles are out of this world delicious.

Some other favorite restaurants of mine include Cafe Munir in North Ballard, Musashi’s in Wallingford, The Crumpet Shop at Pike Place Market, grabbing a sandwich at Un Bien and catching the sunset at Golden Gardens with your feet in the sand.

Checking out the Farmer’s markets – each neighborhood has their unique day they sell – you can get all the fresh local veggies, see local art and support local artists, and eat great food.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shoutout North Seattle College. What an incredible resource. After years of feeling lost without a studio or place to practice, I stumbled upon their Continuing Education program. I was able to create under the guidance of Gary Georger for a couple years at NSC. Thanks for everything you do, Gary! Feeling ready to learn and grow elsewhere, I assisted Deborah Schwartzkopf at Rat City Studios in Seattle for two years. She was my mentor and taught me so much about running a successful business in the arts, pottery and life.

Website: kristacorteseceramics@gmail.com

Instagram: @kristaspots

Image Credits
All photos taken by Krista Smith.

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