Today we’d like to introduce you to Allie Parkin.
Allie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my pottery journey in 2015. I had been attending classes at our local community college and all I had left was electives for my associates degree, so I used up all of my elective credits in the pottery studio. It was a pretty incredible space, they had everything! I had the privilege to study ceramics under the tutelage of Phil Fishwick, a decades long potter and an excellent instructor. From the very first class, I was hooked. I was able to fill a void that had been present since I was a kid, ever since I saw a commercial for a children’s pottery wheel on TV.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say smooth, but I also wouldn’t say rough. There have been a lot of failures and a lot of successes. I honestly can’t complain! At this point in my career, after 10 years, I have come so far and all of those failures and successes have shaped me as an artist and a lifelong student.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I classify my work as functional pottery. Pretty much everything I make has a utilitarian purpose — drinking vessels, plates and bowls, citrus juicers, dog dishes, pie pans, butter bells, planters, you name it. I’m a nature lover, so my pieces embody that appreciation with a touch of whimsy. We’ve got to keep some playfulness and magic alive! My favorite thing to make right now, though, is birdhouses. I’ve been making them for a few years, and creating something that is not only art but also a safe place for beautiful creatures to raise their families is such a joy. I’ve never seen birdhouses like mine, and that’s definitely something I feel sets me apart.
What makes you happy?
So many things make me happy! The tree swallows in the spring and summer, the soft trickle of water from a spring, pink clouds, plump strawberries in the garden, when my son calls me, the greeting I get from the dogs when I arrive home, big trees, the sound of my loved ones voices, a day in the studio listening to my favorite podcast or audio book. Life is such a blessing and there are beautiful moments in everything we do, happiness can be found everywhere if we have the right perspective.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://squirrelmedicinepottery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squirrel.medicine.pottery/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Squirrelmedicinepottery
