Inside the Studio: An Exclusive Interview with Rita Watkins of Pastimes Pottery
Creative Process
Who or what inspires your designs and creations?
Inspiration surrounds me. I love the gentle and elegant fashions of old motion pictures. When I am designing a new piece, I give it a family member's name, so I am surrounded by my family and friends while working. My family comprises a lot of my inspiration. Country living, surrounded by orchards and vineyards, are daily sources of inspiration. I look for inspiration on my daily walks.
A childhood memory is making paper dolls with my sisters. This inspired the Pastimes Pottery Paper Doll Collection. Clients inspire me with their custom orders, prodding me to stretch my imagination and techniques. My company name, Pastimes Pottery, portrays women of past eras in the fashions of their time. My father was a golf pro during the 1930s and 1940s in the Monterey, California area. I portray a woman golfer of that time in several of my designs. Growing up, my identical twin sisters were always dressed in blue and pink to tell them apart.. I continue using their colors when designing.
Do you have a favorite piece you like to make?
I have many favorite pieces. I love both sculpting and painting, and sometimes I combine the two. I loved sculpting the pet urns, and my new goblets are also a favorite. The Women of the World sculptures are not on IndieMe because they are hard to ship, but they are beautiful. I research the costumes of different cultures and build the figures into the bowl. Each one is my favorite!
How do you stay motivated and inspired when faced with creative blocks?
I continue working because I never get bored with my many paths of pottery. I continue to work until another path opens up to new creations. I also look for websites with tricks and tips that help my work from getting stale. Never stop learning!.
Business Aspects
Any tips for time management and organization?
I try to stay organized, which is not easy to do as I tend to get cluttered in my work area. Right now, in central CA, the days get up to 100 degrees and higher, so I try to take care of outdoor work in the morning and then move to indoor work. I have the radio on, and I am in my studio happily working on current projects. My day starts early with a morning walk or gym to get the brain and blood going. That is after a good cup of coffee! I try to end my day around 4 or 4:30. Keep a journal of how to create your items. You do forget which cutter to use, how thick to roll, and the measurements. I find this very helpful!
What challenges did you face when starting your handmade business?
Always trying to balance work and family. It was a learning curve when I went to my first trade show. I asked questions of fellow artists for input.
Can you share any advice for creating engaging content that resonates with your audience?
I will explain the story of my designs and talk with them, asking questions of my customers.
Customer Experience
How does customer feedback influence your work?
Listen to your customers. Talk to clients to hear their ideas and try to achieve their vision. I will ask them if my custom work will fit into their stores locations like tourist areas, historical, etc.
Can you share a memorable customer interaction or story?
I have so many! When I first started, I made tiles for the Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island and carried them through the gorgeous hotel to speak with the buyer. I also walked Carmel by the Sea taking pictures of the historical cottages and then producing a series tiles and sculptures of the cottages and Carmel Mission.
After seeing my work at an art show in Tahoe, I received a commission to make a tile sign for a tea house in a converted log cabin in Montana. I envisioned a bear serving high tea. The design ended up as their logo and was replicated on many of their items.
Another client asked me to design and make a tile mural for their gate entrance. I designed a tile piece of oak leaves and quail that fit in beautifully with their beautiful home in the foothills of the Sierras.
A client, Spirit Urn, saw my work on IndieMe and called to ask if I could design animal urns. That was a fun challenge but worth the work! The technical designs of making the sizes needed for the ashes took research to create each piece. I am always grateful when a client places their wants and wishes in my creative hands.
Personal Insights
How did you get started in creating handmade items?
My whole creative life has brought me to where I am today. My siblings and I made our own fun as children. We learned to create with what we had. I made puppets with clay made from Dad’s sawdust, flour, and water, and sewed scraps for the body. Boy, I got in big trouble when I was inspired by Captain Kangaroo to draw circles and lines for the placement of the eyes, nose, and the mouth. I drew these circle faces on all the walls of our bedroom that was shared with my three older sisters. Of course, it was drawn with crayons! I am still creating faces to this day in and on clay, so my creative journey has never ended.
What are some common misconceptions people have about handmade businesses?
I have heard soooo many times that their children learned how to do your art in school. I just smile and say how nice. Handmade businesses are hard work! After working in the studio all week I would drive to the show destination to work the weekend. Then I’d pack up and drive home only to start the routine over. I live for hard work!
How do you balance your personal life with running your business?
Life can come at you pretty hard. I just have to remind myself that I can achieve my goals, just not all at once. There are always changing responsibilities asking for my time, and I just pace myself.
Best tips for time management and organization?
When you first wake in the morning, plan in your head what you want and need to accomplish that day. You may not finish the list, but don’t beat yourself up, just put it on the list for later. I have learned to better keep track of my orders by creating my own custom inventory forms so I can look at a glance the orders coming in, items in production, and inventory of finished products. Since I am a visual person, I have a picture of the item so I can easily check the inventory.
Industry Trends
How do you keep up with trends and changes in the handmade industry?
I try to see what trends are coming and how my product line fits in.
Are there any emerging trends or innovations in handmade goods that you find particularly interesting?
It is interesting how trends come and go. Some years, bright colors are popular, and the next trend is neutral with just a spot of a popular color. Then another year it’s a Southwestern trend, and the next, farmhouse. I try to stay vigilant and look at my surroundings. Also, see what you like and how your tastes change.
Selling to Boutiques and Buyers
How do you prepare your product line or pitch for a boutique or store?
When designing products, I try to visualize how it will fit in with current work. I use the same palette so the colors will always match. I will always ask the store if there is anything that will work in their store. I designed a line of mid-century paper dolls when I found out the store was in Palm Springs. I also designed a line of past bathing suit paper dolls when the store told me they were located close to the Atlantic City boardwalk. When I am talking with a store owner or customer, I will always let them know I am open to custom work.
Can you describe your experience with trade shows, vendor shows, and/or craft fairs?
After many years of craft fairs and trade shows, I am so grateful to stay in my studio and create. I limit my shows now to a couple of my clay association annual local shows and local galleries. I have also given talks on the history of fashion. At a fashion show, I displayed my mother's wedding dress explaining the history. Questions from school children are always fun!
What are the most common questions or concerns that boutiques or buyers have?
Some stores want to know if you are selling close to their location or what zip codes you ship to. They also want to know if your work is original.
Can you share any successful strategies for maintaining relationships with buyers?
I send emails to my accounts when I am introducing new products at the next expo. I let them know what the date is and my artist special.
What advice would you give to someone looking to break into the wholesale market for the first time?
I know it can be intimidating, but people want you to succeed! Know your product after testing it at local shows and markets. Introduce yourself and your product. Realize it will be slow in the beginning. Keep working and stick with it. Continue fine-tuning your product by listening to the public and your buyers. Beginning to contact buyers can be stressful, but when you sell to your first store, you are walking on air! Find your own style that sets your work apart. And again, listen to the public and buyers. Don't panic when the market slows down. We have the tendency to think it is our product. Over the years, the market has been great as well as down and always fluctuating. Use your downtime to create something new.
Personal
If you weren’t an artist, what career path do you think you would choose?
An architect!
Tell us about yourself!
Wife, mother, grandmother, and cat lover. Living in the country is one of my top joys. We have lived here for about 50 years and enjoy the quiet. I work in my country studio that we built onto our home 20 years ago after I outgrew my working space. I come into my studio every day surrounded by my family and friends, painted on my pottery pieces and tile. Also greeting me are our two studio cats that I raised from tiny kittens. I start my day walking with my friends and feel energized just taking deep breaths of fresh air.
I am like my father in that I am always looking for a better way to work and create my art. From where I first started in clay so many years ago, even now I am constantly working to improve my craft. Always amazing, how can a 25-pound block of clay evolve from just a thought to a work of art! It is such a compliment when a store invests in my work and talent. We cannot forget about all the other tasks of running a business. Working with ceramics, packing is a large part of my work. Then again, you learn as you go.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I guess my hidden talent would be designing and sewing my own clothes. I no longer sew, but I sure can!
Favorite recipe?
I love our family recipes of Portuguese food. Our tradition is to serve it on Christmas Eve dinner and for breakfast. The recipes have now been handed down to my grandson.
24. Favorite TV show?
Right now, it is Matlock, High Potential, and Masterpiece Theater Mysteries.
25. Favorite pastime?
Besides creating with clay, I guess watching Hallmark mysteries on TV. Is that too boring?
