The Maker's Playbook
The Maker's Playbook
Rebecca Ickes Carra
Ep 703: Technical Foundations, Art Fair Realities, and Sustainable Pricing with Olivia Avery
1 hour 22 minutes Posted Oct 10, 2025 at 10:00 am.
Olivia Avery
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Meet Olivia Avery: The Potter's Journey
The Physical Demands of Pottery
Balancing Craftsmanship and Art
The Role of Assistants in the Studio
Navigating Art Shows and Markets
Challenges and Strategies in Selling Pottery
Debating the Merits of Different Pottery Projects
The Challenges and Rewards of Selling at Markets
Navigating Rejections and Building Resilience
Discovering a Passion for Ceramics
The Importance of Photography in Marketing
Transitioning to a Full-Time Pottery Career
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RESAMPLED AUDIO
The Unpredictability of Art Shows
Considering an MFA and Future Plans
Final Thoughts and Where to Find More
Outro
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1:22:10
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Show notes
Send us Fan Mail Many makers struggle with the tension between creating work we love vs making work that we think will sell, especially when traditional academic instruction is often focused on concepts and what I call “Capital A Art” over the practical skills needed to make a living. What if the key isn't choosing between artistic integrity and commercial viability, but rather learning to work efficiently? Olivia Avery's experience reveals how rigorous craftsmanship training—throwing 40-80 p...