Studio Lead Spotlight - Samantha Shaw
Meet Samantha - Hill Clay Studio Lead
What drew you to this art form specifically?
I was an awkward teenager who really liked making things but wasn’t that great at drawing or painting. When I discovered the physicality and three-dimensional quality of creating functional items with clay, I was hooked. It felt like alchemy—and that was intriguing.
What made you stick with it?
I had a hard time finding something I really wanted to study. Committing to an academic pursuit wasn’t easy, but clay’s hands-on nature and the seemingly endless ways to explore it kept me motivated through many different phases of my life. I’ve put clay down now and then over the years, but I always seem to come back to it.
What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever made?
I don’t think I have a single favorite thing, but I get a lot of satisfaction from using the dishes my husband and I have made in our everyday life. There’s something so rewarding about having my morning coffee out of a mug I made from start to finish.
How did your parents feel about you becoming an artist?
My parents have always been supportive of my pursuit of art. My mom was a first grade teacher and made sure I had access to materials from a young age. I also come from a family of makers—carpenters, woodworkers, painters, and all kinds of tinkerers—so creativity was always encouraged.
What’s your favorite class to teach?
I’ve been teaching a mugs class off and on, and I’ve really enjoyed helping people learn to make such a functional form. There’s a lot of nuance to mugs—more than people might expect—and I love helping students hone their skills on something that feels advanced but accessible.
Where do you recommend people start with this art form?
I recommend starting with a 5-week sampler class. If you feel drawn to go deeper, follow it up with an 8-week class. What many people don’t realize is that proficiency with clay just takes time—time with the material and, as cliché as it sounds, practice, practice, practice.
If you didn’t teach Clay, what other would you want to practice or teach?
If I didn’t teach clay, I’d probably get more into woodworking. I’m a sucker for the connection between form and function, and wood has that same appeal as clay. That said, I’m not sure I’m precise enough for it—I’m more of a “dash of this, pinch of that” kind of maker, and I’m not sure wood is quite as forgiving!