Today we’d like to introduce you to Zoe Willard.
Hi Zoe, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started working with clay from a high school ceramics class about 10 years ago. I signed up for the class to get my required art credit to graduate and to be very honest I wasn’t very good at all. But, I just kept taking classes, my second year taking the class, I had a new teacher, Mrs. Pickett, and she really impacted me in ways I didn’t think were possible. She didn’t just help me grow but she believed in me and encouraged me to push my boundaries. I kept working with clay even after graduation, and through college. I have taken so many classes from such knowledgeable people that have helped me grow. In 2020 I started my pottery business Pottery by Zoe, after I built a home pottery studio. I started with just my Etsy site and now I continue to sell on Etsy but also set up at in person events and farmers markets.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think the biggest struggle of it all was to get started. I definitely struggled with never feeling ready and kept telling myself if I just practice a little more, I’ll get better and then I will feel good about selling my work. But the truth of it all is that you are never going to feel ready and the only way to actually get where you want to be is to just jump right in. Believing in yourself is the biggest challenge I faced and a challenge that I still face some days. I think it’s important to remember though that you wouldn’t be given these opportunities if you weren’t ready for it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a potter, I specialize in handmade, functional pottery, things like mugs, bowls, cups, planters, vases, soap dispensers and spoon rests. Everything I make is meant to be used. I think the best way to enjoy something is to use it. I am most proud of my mugs, they are a labor of love for many reasons, and I may have a love-hate relationship with them, but there is something so personal about a mug, that when you hold it you really are connecting with the person that made it and the person using it. I think what sets me apart from others is the designs and color palette that I use, nature is a big inspiration to me. I have searched for years for glaze colors that work well together and align with my vision of my business and the colors combined with the designs really set me apart.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think perseverance and being hardworking are the most important qualities to my success. I was not someone that was naturally gifted with pottery and working with the potter’s wheel, and I just kept telling myself that I was going to get good at it. It didn’t happen overnight; it happened over years. And if I would’ve given up, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Luck can only get you so far in life, but persevering and being hardworking will take you much farther.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://potterybyzoe.etsy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potterybyzoe/
