Meet Zoey B Scheler | Ceramic Artist and Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zoey B Scheler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zoey B, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
As a ceramic artist I am often commissioned to make speciality mugs, from a specific pattern to a specific size. What people often don’t realize is how long it actually takes to make one mug. Because of the finicky nature of the porcelain I use, I can’t make just one, I often make three with the hope that one will make it through both firings crack and flaw free. Sometimes all three make it through and I luck out with an additional two I can sell but sometimes only one survives. I am not charging the price of three, of course, but I am putting in the additional time and materials with the hope of one coming out as the customer had ordered. I recently did an illustration showing the steps from start to finish of creating a mug and it takes 22 days from start to finish. It was a really fun project for me to illustrate the process but it has also been really nice to be able to show customers a physical timeline. Often clients don’t fully understand what goes into the process of making a ceramic object.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work is all about celebrating beauty and joy. With so much darkness in the world it is my hope that my work brings a fresh, positivity to those using and admiring my work. I am most proud of my persistence in mastering my craft. Functional work is handled, touched and interacted with so detail and finesse is essential. It excites and motivates me to look back on work made from years ago to even just six month ago and to be able to see the continued growth. Whether it is the shape of the handle feeling more fluid or the crispness of the lines carved, seeing the work become more sophisticated and developed makes me not only see but feel the growth that one day will lead to the mastering of my craft. As someone born and raised in Westchester NY, 30 minutes outside of NYC, the hustle and energy of New York was something in my blood that I thought was where I would always be and needed to be to be a successful artist. After getting my BFA, MSED & MFA all in NY it was time for a change. I relocated to Canon City, CO a very small rural town in southern Colorado, where my husband is from. Being here has given me a new perspective on time, space, and beauty all of which has impacted my work. Change can be scary but for me this change has been so beneficial to both my work, my relationships and my studio practice. I think changing your environment and going outside your comfort zone (whatever that means) can be some of the best actions an artist can take to find success and truly understand who they are as an artist and person. I want the world to know that I feel extremely lucky and privileged to get to do what I love every single day and my hope is that the work carries those feelings with it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came out to Canon City, I would take them to all the beautiful spots to hike and wonder, from Tunnel Drive, to Skyline Drive, to Red Canyon we would take advantage of the natural beauty that surrounds the area. We would walk the river-walk and check out some of the remarkable local trails. We would obviously go to Nirvana for some amazing Indian food and Le Petit Chablis for fantastic French cuisine. If it’s summer time we would white water raft on the Arkansas River and in the winter we would drive up to Monarch Mountain in Salida to go skiing. We might even do a little glamping (glamorous camping) up by the Royal Gorge Bridge. What I can absolutely guarantee is that we would spend as much time outside as humanly possible going on adventures, checking out the ever changing terrain and looking out at the glorious mountains.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would dedicate my shoutout without a doubt to my husband Paul Clark Minor. We met at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY in 2007. Paul is an incredibly talented painter, sculptor and designer. He believes so strongly in me and my work and he whole heartedly supports me pursuing my ceramic practice full time. He put his art making practice on the back burner to become a real-estate agent, to give us some financial stability, I will forever be so grateful and appreciative of his selflessness and belief in me. My hope is we can find a balance where he can create more and we can collaborate in the studio and potentially develop a creative business beyond my studio practice that would allow him to do the real-estate on the side instead of his art practice. Paul inspires me everyday, having a loving and passionate partner makes the journey of being an artist a lot less scary and so much more exciting and rewarding.

Website: zoeybscheler.com

Instagram: @zoeybscheler