"55_Ceramic.studio": From a Small Dream to a Stable Life with Ceramics

"Whatever happens, happens for the best" is perhaps the most fitting sentiment for the origin story of "55_Ceramic.studio," a small studio that began from the job insecurity brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to the creation of a small business that not only provides a livelihood but also brings life stability and a sense of happiness every time they get to mold clay.

Khun Kwan and Khun Man both graduated with degrees in ceramic design from Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi and shared a dream: to someday open a small home-based business, using ceramics, their field of study, as a career. It was what they loved and excelled at most. However, before making that dream a reality, they both went their separate ways to work regular jobs and gain experience.

But then... the dream that once seemed distant became closer due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This prompted them both to decide to invest in opening a small studio, just as they had envisioned, using their house number as the name of this studio: "55_Ceramic.Studio."

 

Newcomers Opening a Studio

"Many people might think it's difficult to open your own studio, but for the two of us, we don't think it's that hard. We just need to first assess how much workspace we have. Luckily, our home has enough space. The remaining hurdle was the availability of equipment. Of course, we needed a certain amount of capital to purchase various tools. Some people might prefer to slowly accumulate pieces until they're ready to open a studio. But if I were to recommend something to beginners, based on my direct experience, I'd suggest buying a set. This way, you get both a kiln and a potter's wheel, allowing you to open your studio much faster."

"Once the equipment is ready, we start planning the direction of our work. Kwan and Man began by looking for inspiration from their surroundings and what they liked. For example, if they enjoyed watching movies, they would draw inspiration from the characters' personalities to create their work. Once we find inspiration, we start working continuously, and then we discover what truly represents us, and that's our selling point."

 

Introducing 55_Ceramic.studio to the World

"After opening 55_Ceramic.studio, the next thing to consider and accomplish was how to make people outside our immediate circle aware of us. The most accessible way right now is social media. I started looking for potential customer groups on Facebook to see what kind of work they liked. For example, there are many types of plant pots, but which ones are popular? Then, I combine that with our inspiration to see if it fits. Do we need to adjust our pieces anywhere? If it feels right, then we get to work.

"The important thing is, once the piece is finished, you can't just take a plain photo. You need to find a beautiful backdrop to attract customers, then post the product on Facebook with clear details to draw people in. You can start by sharing the post in various pottery groups. Kwan and Man were lucky that family members and friends helped share our posts, which helped us find customers through another channel. The result was a great response, especially for our dragon pots. We had an overwhelming number of bookings, with a waiting list stretching for months!" 

 

The Charm of Pottery, Unlike Any Other Art Form

"Because we studied pottery directly, we developed a fondness and love for working with clay. We both enjoy and have fun with the work we do. When we sculpt something and genuinely love the piece, it feels like a form of meditation, especially when the piece has a lot of detail.

"The charm of pottery isn't just about the beauty and the finished pieces emerging from the kiln. Another charm we've discovered is the need for thought and creativity to produce unique pieces. Each time you sculpt, it's never exactly the same. Especially when sculpting living things, we have to make them look alive, flowing, and realistic. We have to inject imagination into the work."

 

So, what is the difficulty of pottery for beginners?

"For beginners, I would recommend starting with freehand shaping, such as rolling clay into a slab or coiling it into long ropes. Your piece might not be perfectly smooth or neat, but that can become a unique characteristic of that particular artwork. If you want a coffee mug or a plate, you can use your hands to pinch and mold the clay into the shape of a cup, according to the size and form you desire. This is a simple process, and then you can decorate it with colored clay or glaze for beauty."

 

How important are the raw materials used?

"As I mentioned earlier, because we studied ceramics, we've wanted to start a small business for a long time. So we started researching kilns and various equipment. Then one day, our professor shared the Pottery Clay page on Facebook, so we started following Pottery Clay. After that, we constantly inquired and discussed kilns until we were finally confident that Pottery Clay products were good and we could truly trust their quality."

"The products our studio chooses to use start with the kiln. We use a Taiwanese kiln from Pottery Clay, model DG-01. This kiln is not too small and not too big, but for us, it's the perfect size because our studio isn't very large. After using it, we really like it because it's easy to use and the temperature is stable."

"Next is the potter's wheel. We also chose a product from Pottery Clay, the Pottery Wheel PW03. We feel that it's easy to use, quiet, easy to clean, and convenient to move around. Additionally, we use underglaze colors from Pottery Clay because the colors are good, easy to apply to the products, and don't change hue at all."

 

Promote Your Shop, Promote Your Studio!

"Kwan and Man would like to promote our 55_Ceramic.Studio. We just opened our studio not long ago. Our main products are plant pots, focusing on free-standing and high-relief pieces. Our best-selling item is the dragon pot, which is the most requested custom order from our customers. We also offer many other designs that we create according to our customers' wishes; we cater to their every need.

"You can follow our products and work on our Facebook or Instagram page "55_ceramic.Studio," and contact us via Line : @658ivivl or call 08-7359-8140 (Kwan) or  08-7359-7300 (Man)."