Handmade ceramics are unique functional pieces that double as art. Perhaps nobody knows this better than Molly Svoboda of Boda Clay, who has been making ceramics since the age of fifteen. “My first experience with clay was some open studio time with one of my best friends in high school,” recalls Svoboda. “We were homeschooling together, and we convinced our moms it would be a great art credit, which felt like a huge success.” Svoboda quickly fell in love with making ceramics and went on to enroll in a community college ceramics class to keep up with her passion while still finishing high School.
Jump to today, and Svoboda’s work has evolved into a thriving business. She makes all kinds of tableware and pottery that can be used while eating or cooking. Think spoon crocks, salt bowls, butter dishes and of course, mugs. “Although mugs and spoon rests are the best gifts and still my best sellers,” she says. Always up for a challenge, she has concocted interesting, one-of-a-kind tabletop pieces, too. Last fall, she made some pedestal serving bowls. “I kept one for our home, in a bright orangey-red glaze, and it always brings a smile to my face when I fill it with fruit.”
However, Svoboda is quick to point out that being a working artist or creative business owner of any kind can be extremely difficult. “There are endless obstacles and absolutely never enough money for the needed upgrades or maintenance, and you generally are the team,” she says. It’s why she hopes customers will continue to shop local. “Remember that nearly every dollar a small business receives is returned to our local economy. So please, continue to ‘vote with your dollar’ and feel really good doing it, knowing you are supporting local artists,” she says.
Hence, Svoboda is switching gears slightly to inspire others to dabble in the arts. Aside from creating her own pieces, lately she has found a new love of teaching ceramic arts, bringing her work full circle in a way. Once the student who first found her love of ceramics in the classroom, she is now a teacher inviting students into her creative space. She launched an open studio membership program last month and is teaching more six-week handbuilding courses, she says.
She is excited to continue to help inspire her students to make their own pieces. “Since returning to work after maternity leave in January, I have been focused on optimizing and growing my teaching practice,” she says. Still, she doesn’t think she’ll ever give up being an artist to take on the role of teacher full time. “I'm so happy to be making pots again, too, but getting to know students better and welcoming them into my space has been so fulfilling.”
See https://bodaclaystl.com/ for more!
