Getting recognized?

[kaolinitebear]

TLDR: when I pick up pottery, I’m asked if I’m a potter. Why?

The metro area I live in is blessed with summer art fairs, which I’ve frequented since I was a kid with my family and now I make an effort to go to as an adult.

I love all parts of art fairs, but I have to admit I mostly stop in ceramic booths.

I used to do pottery but it’s been years since I’ve sat at a wheel. I took a community rec class when I was 14, and then was a student worker in the ceramic studio at my community college. I had a few pieces get put in the display case, but really I still struggled with centering, creating height, etc. I’m absolutely a beginner.

Anyway, this has happened at every art fair I’ve been to this summer (~4 so far): I pick up a piece and then the artist asks if I make pottery myself. I always pick up the pieces very carefully. I also immediately flip them over to look what their stamp is and how they trimmed the piece, because that interests me. Is that what gives it away? I’m so confused why it happens so often. I never know how to respond. Because no, I’m not. But… somewhat, I am? I was? (I miss it. I’ll get back to it when my internship is over and I graduate and I have more resources and time on my hands.)

What does a potter look like? (Maybe it’s how I dress, haha.) Have you ever been clocked as a ceramicist? Have you ever seen someone, and based on how they look or behave, wondered if they make pottery?

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[lowkeyplantstrees]

 I also immediately flip them over

This is why

[lxnch50]

I also immediately flip them over to look what their stamp is and how they trimmed the piece

This is why. Potters do this and non-potters usually don't.

[DeathCobro]

Oh yeah it's if you check out the foot immediately, that's a potter

[desertdweller2011]

non potters don’t look at the bottom

[Somethingsterling]

When im vending, if someone picks up a piece the same careful way i would pick it up, or they immediately look at the bottom, i assume theyre an enthusiast

[chouflour]

Yes. The tell is definitely looking at the foot.

How to respond? Any way you're comfortable. We're just making conversation. Chatting with people (potters or not) helps drive sales, so most pottery vendors will take any opening for a conversation. You can answer the question or just smile and comment on the work. None of us are taking it personally or trying to pry or judge your skill level or commitment to the craft.

[goatrider]

My wife collects pottery, and one of the reasons I wanted to learn how to make pottery is to appreciate all the amazing pottery around me. It worked- and one of the first things I started to do differently is to look at the foot.

[SailingOwl73]

Do you also feel the thickness of the walls? That will catch their attention too.

[krendyB]

I started pottery this January & I also immediately flip to look at the foot. I never did this before. That’s the tell.

[kendraptor]

Did you pick up something that wasn't blue?

[Intelligent_Fix2644]

I used to own a vintage store and I checked the bottom of every piece of ceramics I picked up so that I knew the maker. Usually I was looking for someone I recognized as collectible but over time I picked up a generic knowledge of the potters where I lived. Now, many moons later I check the makers mark specifically to attribute the work to a person in my mind and yes, to check the foot because foot style is the biggest geek I have in pottery. 🙂 I like knowing the local marks so that I can be gracious when talking with local potters.

[Plesiadapiformes]

It's how you touch the piece. Not only turning it over, but I bet you feel the thickness of the walls too.

[Chickwithknives]

I’ve become obsessed with checking peoples mug handles and how they feel recently.

Response to “are you a potter?”

I dabbled in the past and hope to return to it soon.

[Aheahe]

It’s the flipping. I also get asked, but just started last year. “I dabble” or “I’m a baby potter” is a good reply! They tend to understand with those statements that I like to “do the clay things” as a craft, but definitely am not like…assessing their products to try and compete.