STUDIO MOTIVATION: TRAVEL, PEERS, AND INSTAGRAM Tony Young
I went to Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, and received my BFA in art education in 2005. I’m currently in my 15th year teaching art a high school located a little north of Columbus, Ohio. As part of my undergraduate degree, I focused in ceramics. I spend about 20 hours a week in my studio these days, maybe more. I try to work almost every evening doing something. I’ll help with dinner, make my kids snacks, then go down to the studio while my wife gives the kiddos a bath. My favorite thing about having an in-home studio is that I can sneak some time in here and there as it’s just a trip down the steps. I think I would really struggle if my studio was anywhere but home at this point in my life. Studio Space
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www.ceramicartsnetwork.org
My studio is a 25×30-foot unfinished basement in my house. I have everything I need in this space to go from a ball of clay to a finished piece. Being a full-time high school teacher, I was just making a few cups here and there 4 years ago. I was actually slip casting most of my early pieces. As I became addicted to throwing, I purchased a VL-Whisper wheel from my local clay supplier. I found a Skutt 1027 Kiln on eBay for a good price, and I’ve recently installed a sink. I have a few tables/workstations in my studio and one desk that is used for all my surface work. I store stencils in the drawers, as well as underglaze transfers, and other general supplies that are used all the time. To the left of the desk is a shelving unit that gets loaded up with bisqueware, so I can easily grab the next piece as needed while working. Another large table is my handle-attaching and handbuilding area. I also use it when I’m lining a batch of cups with glaze, and it turns into my shipping and packing area after each sale. Slip casting happens on a makeshift table consisting of a piece of drywall on top of some sawhorses. Ideally, I’d like to clean up a couple other areas, buy some more shelving, and get to a point where I have a dedicated packing and shipping area. The space is great for what I do, but can always be more efficient! I use a variety of techniques to achieve my surfaces, including stenciling, screen printing, sponging, painting, taping, spraying,
