Spotlight: Nick Joerling shifts gears Techno File - Ceramic Arts Daily

I throw, assemble, and decorate in
the upstairs space, and slip cast and glaze
downstairs. One of the best things about
my property is that I have room to grow.
Years from now, I hope to build a house
that I live in, and then make my little
house where I currently live available for
an apprentice.
Adjacent to the studio building is a
90-square-foot shed for tools, glaze chemicals,
and my electric kiln. In between the two buildings is my new
soda kiln that was built (with the help of generous friends) this past
fall. The design of the kiln is based on the “little vic” kiln at Anderson
Ranch Arts Center. It is a small boury-box style cross-draft kiln that
can be fired with wood, natural gas, or oil. The kiln building project
was funded through selling pots, and the small retirement fund I saved
up and cashed in from teaching adjunct for three years.
“The fact that I’m willing
to live in such a small space
helps. After all, doesn’t
everyone dream of a studio
bigger than their house?”
When I finished graduate school
almost six years ago, I never imagined
I would be able to afford, maintain, or
manifest a home and studio of my own,
although that has always been my intention.
Currently, my rental house helps
financially sustain the property. The fact
that I’m willing to live in such a small
space helps. After all, doesn’t everyone
dream of a studio bigger than their house?
People often ask me, “Can you believe it? You are living the dream!”
I do think I am very fortunate. This home and studio have already
brought me so much happiness and stability, and I can only believe
it because I had to work harder than I ever imagined I could in
order to begin to see it materialize. I’ve always liked the saying, “the
harder you work, the luckier you are,” and I have found that to be
true in most things.
www.ceramicsmonthly.org march 2011 35