Conversations with Natalie Anthone

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Anthone.

Natalie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I found ceramics in college, after taking some time off after my mom passed away. I was going through a really hard time, but I decided going back to school was the best option for me. I went to the college in my home town at Buffalo State and randomly took a ceramics class. I had no idea that they had such an incredible ceramics studio there, or that I had a natural talent for sculpting. But sure enough, I found the thing that had been missing from my life. The studio was a safe place for me to go at a time when I needed it, and the clay was therapeutic for me. It was my escape. I spent long days, long nights, weekends, and even holidays in the studio, hoping to get better at my craft. It wasn’t long until I changed my major to ceramics and worked my way up to being the TA and work-study. I started working for other artists in my hometown, trying to learn as much as I could about building a business, opening a studio, and teaching classes. After graduating, I took a road trip across the country and fell in love with Denver and Colorado as a whole. I had an opportunity to move here and so I did. I found a small ceramics studio, Urban Mud, on Santa Fe and continued my practice in ceramic sculpture. One of the teachers there noticed my work and told me about a job opportunity at Art Students League Denver. I sent them an email and next thing you know I was being hired to teach my own class! I’m now teaching ‘Conscious Clay’ a creative ceramics class that blends writing, sketching, and poetry into a sculpture course. The class is running throughout the summer, with registrations for July/August now open. In the near future, I have plans to open a cooperative studio space amongst a group of potters and woodworkers I’ve met here in Denver.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely not. I’ve had so many setbacks and disappointments, the medium itself will teach you patience and coping with failure. Any potter will tell you the heartbreak of opening a kiln and having something turn out an unexpected disaster. I spent a lot of long days and nights working tirelessly in the studio only to have things fall apart. The hardest part of continuing ceramics after college has been trying to find a kiln to use or a place to install a kiln. Every day I’m still pushing to make things work, but I’m learning so much in the process.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a professional sculptor and ceramic artist, as well as a ceramics teacher. I’m known for my vibrant figurative sculptures that feature biomorphic extremities and an undertone of connected consciousness and self-actualization. I’m most proud of my solo show ‘Transcendence Through Clay’ that I exhibited for my senior thesis last summer, where I installed a five foot tall ceramic cactus. What sets me apart from others is my ambition and refusal to back down, no matter how difficult things get. I always figure out a way to make it work.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice is to just go out and seek as much opportunity as possible. You have to put yourself out there and not be afraid of rejection. Ask around or use the internet as a tool for finding people, events, and groups. There’s so many exciting things going on in Denver, all you have to do show up. I never turned any opportunity down in the beginning, I just tried to learn as much as possible… even if the job wasn’t fun. Eventually, you work your way up. Anyone interested in learning ceramics, I encourage to take my course located at asld.org.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://natalieanthone.weeblysite.com
• Instagram: sacredceramicsart

Image Credits
All photos taken by Natalie Anthone