Dirtbag Spotlight Nia Estelles- Lead Ceramicist Teacher at Dirtbag ArtHaus
At Dirtbag ArtHaus, we aim to unite those who feel like misfits in a world bound by mere virtual introductions. Prepare to immerse yourself in a realm brimming with clay, paint and endless creative possibilities, where our community fosters innovation. Our inaugural newsletter delivers studio updates, upcoming events, expert advice, and inspiring tales from our talented members. Whether you're an experienced artist or just starting to explore your artistic side, this space is tailored for individuals like you, driven by creativity. Instagram: www.instagram.com/estelles.atelier/
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Interview Edited For Brevity
The quick and dirty (that’s how we like it at Dirtbag!) Nia brings an inspiring story and valuable skills to Dirtbag ArtHaus. Like many of our misfits, Nia is determined to challenge the status quo. Their career trajectory isn't linear, allowing them to explore passions beyond the conventional path. We are privileged to have her wealth of knowledge and dedication at The ArtHaus. Delving into their interview reveals their initial love for dance and pole, showing how skills beyond the routine can lead to unexpected paths. Keep scrolling for more insights!
When did you start working with Dirtbag ArtHaus?
I started with Dirtbag last August, about a month or so after they opened.
When and how did you start working with clay?
I started in the fall of 2020 kind of on a whim — I passed by a studio near my apartment at the time and signed up for classes when they reopened (this was during 2020 so their classes were closed for a while).
What about it keeps you going? How do you develop your own skills and knowledge?
Always Discovering Something New: I like that there’s so much to explore — from different shapes to decoration techniques and so on, there’s a lot to play with and it’s one of those art forms that you could spend your entire life focused on and you’d still have more to learn which I find exciting.
Practice and Community: I tend to develop my skills mostly through lots of practice, watching videos on YouTube or other social media if I’m looking to learn about a specific technique, or taking advanced/topic specific workshops here and there. Teaching is also helping me develop my skills because I’m learning how to explain why I make things in the way that I do, so it’s helping me understand the “why” behind lots of techniques that I use. I learn new things when people ask questions or run into issues that I haven’t encountered before. Chatting with other potters either in person or online is always a great way to share knowledge.
What inspires your creations? Is there something you’re working on that is challenging?
Nature and Community: I’ve been really into painting/carving leaf designs lately and have been using a lot of earth tones so nature is a big inspiration. I feel like I also get inspired by other artists around me — sometimes I’ll see shapes or techniques that I’ll want to try so I take that inspiration and try to make it my own.
Bigger Pieces: Lately I’ve been working on making bigger pieces to try and get comfortable working with larger amounts of clay, and also playing with handbuilding techniques while teaching, so those two areas are challenging in their own ways.
What are your goals with teaching ceramics?
Sharing the joy of clay: My main goal with teaching is just to refine the basics for myself while sharing the joy of working with clay with others. I feel like teaching is one of the best way to solidify skills that you already have, since it’s a whole other skill to be able to explain and guide others through certain techniques and processes, so teaching is helping me grow as a potter as much as growing my skills as a potter helps expand the techniques that I’m able to teach.
What advice would you give to newcomers?
Be patient with yourself! Ceramics is way harder than it looks and there’s so much to learn, so be easy on yourself. It takes a lot of time and repetition to become comfortable with the skills so take your time and try to have fun along the way.
With Black History Month coming to a close last month, what does it mean to you as it relates to ceramics?
Keep that energy all year round: I think it can be a time to highlight the work of Black artists and maybe reflect on our particular cultural context that requires that time set aside for them to be highlighted. It makes me think about what a societal/cultural context would look like in which Black artists are uplifted and supported all months of the year, and not just one in particular (same goes for other areas/industries). It can be nice and helpful to have the spotlight and I think it’s important to keep that energy year round, particularly for white consumers/ceramics collectors and studios/organizations who may run predominately white spaces.
I think for me, I’ve already been reflecting and focusing on how I want to be in more spaces that are by and for Black artists and people in general — joining groups like Kilnfolk (see Community Spotlight below) and vending at markets that are either for or run by Black vendors, etc. — so this month has been a continuation of that process for me.
Are there any Black ceramicists that inspire you?
Diana: @sample.haus
Kyle Scott Lee: @ceramicmeltdown
Ronaldo: @motionsofclay
Okay, so tell us about Nia outside of ceramics! What else do you like to do?
Definitely a hobbyist: I love dabbling in all kinds of crafts outside of ceramics (at home I currently have supplies for candle making, lotion making, embroidery, knitting, painting, and probably a few more things.)
Reading: I’m also a big fan of reading, most recently finished reading the second book of the “Children of Blood and Bone” trilogy and I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait for the 3rd book to come out this year.
Dancing: I also love to dance and got into pole dancing about 2 years ago, and now have a pole in my apartment which is always fun to play around on. I’m passionate about dance and movement in general.
My artistic journey started with dance as a kid, and I still love to do it now. I find that if I’ve gone too long without any kind of movement (could be a dance class or yoga or even just dancing around my apartment) it tends to have a negative impact on me so it’s pretty crucial to my mental & physical health at this point.
To take a class with Nia, check out our calendar: https://www.dirtbagarthaus.com/calendar