Hi,
Is there anyone out there who makes pottery or ceramics? I already sell in Europe (including UK) through Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr (Handmade section) and Etsy. I also have my own website at www.creationsdesuzanne.co.uk and would love to hear from others with the same interests.
Regards, Suzanne
Hi Suzanne,
I just joined SF recently, so am seeing your message from May for the first time. I make ceramic sculpture; I have a plan to live in France within the next few years. Iāll be in Paris in November 2017 and plan to visit La Borne while there. I have no idea whether any of this is of interest, so please forgive if Iām offering too little that you can use. My plan is to network and travel to as many ceramic arts centres as I can, over the next couple of years. Ultimately, I need to find a studio where I can make clay sculpture and do raku firings. I might sell my work but mostly I seek a place to make art, as I luckily have an independent income at present so donāt have to sell my work to survive.
A first stop, as I mentioned, is La Borne. It would be a pleasure to meet you, at some point, if you felt inclined.
Currently, I do a lot of volunteer work for art teachers here in Vermont USA, and would love to support the arts community in which I eventually settle in France. If you know of a situation where an established ceramics artist could use studio assistance would you perhaps let me know? I have experience and training, and referencesā¦ But thatās getting a bit ahead of myself.
The bottom line: I do plan to make ceramics and would like to learn more about selling in France/Europe. I donāt have a website, nor do I sell via Etsy. That said, I do feel that I might have the same interests. Perhaps it would be fun to correspond, and/or meet.
Attached is an interesting document with a list of ceramic arts centers contacts in France. If you have any advice or would like to meet I would be honored. Iām so new to all of this!
Thanks,
MaryCeĢramique : adresses eĢcoles et centres de formation de ceĢramique.pdf (733.8 KB)
Hi Mary,
Sorry it has taken a couple of days to get back to you but Iām unexpectedly having to go to the UK tomorrow so things are a bit rushed around here at the moment.
Anyway, as you can see from my website, I have only a very small pottery and I work alone. This started as a hobby then took off when I realised that people would buy it. We are planning to move soon and a bigger pottery is definitely on the list.
I buy a lot of my supplies from a company called Solargil S.A at Moutiers en Puisaye (www.solargil.com http://www.solargil.com ). Driving up there to collect my order it seems that every close village is full of pottery shops and studios plus they have displays and seem to support a lot of local artists. Maybe an internet search could help there or contact the company themselves and they may be able to help. They do have a concept store in Paris which could be of help to you when you visit (solargil@conceptstore.paris mailto:solargil@conceptstore.paris ). The address is 92 bis rue Jean Pierre Timbaud, 75011 Paris ā Tel: 01 42 77 59 09 and they are open between 13.00 ā 19.00 on Mondays and 10.30 ā 19.00 Tuesday to Saturday.
To answer your question ā No I donāt work for them or get commission! I seriously have not seen so many ceramic shops and studios all in one area. Apparently that area is well known for ceramics. It also looked a lovely area.
Iām sorry I canāt help any further and I hope you enjoy your visit in November, I donāt know if I will be back here then so I donāt want to make any plans at the moment (going over to help my parents and things are a bit difficult with injuries + dementia) but it would be nice to correspond, maybe meet up one day and see your work.
Have a good trip!
Best wishes,
Sue x
Sue,
Thanks so much for your reply! Good to know Iām heading in the right direction, for ceramics artisans/artists, this first trip.
Iād like to wish you safe travels as well. The experience with family health issues - parental ones in particular - is something Iām a bit familiar with.
Best,
Mary