Today we’d like to introduce you to Nate Clinton.
Nate, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I was younger, my mom gave my brother and I air-dry clay, and we’d make things and paint them. As I got older, I didn’t do much art until I was a senior in high school and took my first ceramics class. I mostly focused on hand-building and worked a limited amount on the wheel. The next time I had an opportunity to take a class was in college. It was a wheel throwing class at the University of North Dakota when I was in my final year of electrical engineering courses. I got to learn a lot about ceramics during the class and had to practice a lot since we had 10 different pieces due every three or so weeks. After graduating college, I moved to Minneapolis for a job and learned from a friend about an open spot in her pottery class and I was lucky enough to join the class in August of 2023. Since I already had some experience, it only took a couple of weeks for me to get back into it. When I started there, I really just wanted to get rid of all the bowls that I got from Target and make something I would use every day. I also just wanted a new mug that I could bring to work instead of just using the same mug as everyone else at the office. Once I had my bowls and mugs, I wanted to make other functional pieces and replace the things around my apartment. I started making these unique functional pieces, like utensil jars, fruit bowls, oil dispensers, spoon rests, large fruit bowls, and my personal favorite lamps. I am focusing on getting more out of the clay that I throw and making everything lighter and taller. I am really just getting started with posting my pieces and recently started a Facebook and Instagram page showcasing my ceramics. I am excited to start doing shows and meeting new people and showing off everything that I have made!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There was a definite learning curve for me when it came to learning ceramics and throwing on the wheel. There are the basic things, like learning how to center, getting a consistent pull, having even walls, and trimming without putting a hole in the bottom of your pot. These are a couple of things that my college ceramics class stressed, and I tried to focus on getting good at and find confidence in. Once I got the basics down, I really started to have fun and get creative, making different forms and unique pieces. But there are always the unknowns and uncontrollable things, like when you try new glaze combinations on something you were proud of, and the glaze just doesn’t work out and ruins the piece. Or when you thought you dried the piece in an appropriate amount of time but still end up with a crack in the bottom or the handles. It is always challenging when a piece doesn’t turn out the way you want but at least you can always make another one. These things are avoidable with experience, and I continually have fewer heartbreaking mistakes like these.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I make ceramics at a studio in Hopkins called CeramicSow. Around the studio, I am known for making lamps and snowman cookie jars around the holiday season. I am also known for taking a lot of notes about the pieces I make. I will number every piece I make and write down the glaze combinations, weights, and take a picture of them. This helps me make repeatable glaze combinations and helps when friends or family have requests for pieces. Making sets is something that I have recently been focusing on, and it helps me identify the pieces when they are on the shelf and out in the wild. I would say I am most proud of the lamps I have created and the beautiful glaze combinations I have been able to repeat.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My teacher, Adama, at CeramicSow has also been a great help and mentor for my pieces. He has always provided good insight on different glaze combinations. He will suggest ways to think about forms and how they will work when finished and used by others. My parents have also been very encouraging and really like it when I bring them gifts. My grandma and grandpa have also been great supporters and will let me know how much they enjoy using the stuff I have made for them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nateclintonceramics
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566562247545
- Other: https://linktr.ee/NateClintonCeramics
