Ally Powell

MEET THE MAKER

I’m Ally Powell, a ceramicist and artist based in Nottingham, I was first drawn to clay whilst studying for my degree in Decorative Arts. I was enamoured by the ceramics I saw on my local high street, so I delved deeper into the world of contemporary craft and discovered a joy for making and the tenacity required to work with clay. I graduated from my degree during lockdown in 2020 and have been working from my home studio since. At its heart, my practice aims push the boundaries of traditional processes, crafting beautiful objects that provoke curiosity. My current body of work ‘Tangled’ is a series of parian sculptures exploring the quality of a line and what a drawing might look like in three dimensions. Each of my sculptures are comprised of the same slip-cast curves, each cut up and reattached to create unique forms, subverting the narrative surrounding slip-casting as a mass production technique.

WHAT ARE YOUR FEEDBACKS?

Over the next three years I hope to transition away from my part time job to devote more time to my business, as well as continuing to develop my practice and push forward with new ideas. The Crafting Business Course has given me the space to define these main objectives, as well as giving me the tools and connections to achieve them. Alongside the hugely practical information about finance, grants, selling internationally and web design, the Crafting Business Course has provided me the space to think deeply about my vision and values. I have been able to consider in more detail why I make, what motivates me and what I ultimately want to achieve with my business. For me, this was discovering that I want to make work that provokes a response, in the same way that I was intrigued by how ceramics were made – I hope that my work can provide that sense of curiosity for someone else. Over the past four months, I have connected with some amazing makers, some in early stages like myself and some much further ahead in their business, all with lots of helpful tips and advice. Connecting with this cohort of makers has been one of the most valuable parts of the Crafting Business Course. Since starting the programme, I have clarified my vision and values and now place less importance on producing lighting products, instead giving myself more space to experiment with my sculptural works.

FIVE THINGS YOU’LL BRING WITH YOU FROM THE EXPERIENCE:

• Think about your ‘why’, what drives you to make? This was a huge revelation for me and allowed me to think deeper about my long-term goals.
• Find an accountant, they should save you more money than they cost!
• Know yourself and your goals, and have the confidence to turn down opportunities that don’t fit your vision.
• Don’t dismiss grants! There are so many out there that I had never heard of made to support your practice and development.
• Taking time to reflect on your goals, what you’ve accomplished and where you want to go next is so important.