1 00:00:00,650 --> 00:00:05,930 Our country is full of incredible makers dreaming of turning their talent into 2 00:00:05,930 --> 00:00:07,050 money -making careers. 3 00:00:07,350 --> 00:00:10,370 It would mean everything to be able to do this full -time. 4 00:00:10,810 --> 00:00:15,250 So, with a team of fantastic professional mentors... I know your 5 00:00:15,250 --> 00:00:16,490 know what you're capable of doing. 6 00:00:16,710 --> 00:00:20,770 I run a one -of -a -kind boot camp, showing them how to do just that. 7 00:00:21,030 --> 00:00:25,750 Perfect. My proudest moment, I'll just say that. Yes. Now I'm on my way to 8 00:00:25,750 --> 00:00:29,750 up with those who have made their dreams come true. Hello. There he is. Hello, 9 00:00:29,810 --> 00:00:30,810 mate. 10 00:00:30,850 --> 00:00:34,890 I'll be hearing about their amazing achievements. I've been able to put down 11 00:00:34,890 --> 00:00:37,070 deposit on a house. This is my full -time job. 12 00:00:37,390 --> 00:00:39,690 And finding out how much money they're making. 13 00:00:40,150 --> 00:00:41,610 A little bit under £40 ,000. 14 00:00:41,970 --> 00:00:44,390 Around £50 ,000. £50 ,000? Yes. 15 00:00:44,590 --> 00:00:49,190 So join me and meet the fabulous makers who have transformed their lives and 16 00:00:49,190 --> 00:00:50,230 made it at market. 17 00:00:50,690 --> 00:00:53,030 You can kind of say I'm living the dream. 18 00:00:53,250 --> 00:00:54,750 I think that's fair to say. 19 00:01:00,730 --> 00:01:07,390 For a lot of makers who come to my bootcamp, their dream is to earn enough 20 00:01:07,390 --> 00:01:08,390 from their talents. 21 00:01:08,540 --> 00:01:10,420 to make a living doing the thing they love. 22 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:15,780 Today, we'll be catching up with two whose incredible skills have transformed 23 00:01:15,780 --> 00:01:16,780 their lives. 24 00:01:18,020 --> 00:01:22,660 Later, mentor Sharon will be hearing all about teacher and fluid artist Gemma's 25 00:01:22,660 --> 00:01:23,780 success in ethics. 26 00:01:24,660 --> 00:01:28,480 Over about an 18 -month period, I had over 200 commissions. Wow, that's 27 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:29,480 fantastic. 28 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:34,240 Before that, I'll be checking in with Potter Izzy in South West London. 29 00:01:36,940 --> 00:01:42,380 I first met her in the spring of 2022 when she came to my business boot camp 30 00:01:42,380 --> 00:01:47,100 looking for help to turn her pottery into a paying profession after giving up 31 00:01:47,100 --> 00:01:48,780 her job at an advertising agency. 32 00:01:49,220 --> 00:01:52,340 It would mean everything to be able to do this full time. 33 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:57,220 I mean, it's totally my passion. It's something that I love to do. And to be 34 00:01:57,220 --> 00:02:02,560 able to spend all of my time making beautiful pottery pieces for people to 35 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,240 in their homes would be a total dream come true. 36 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:11,039 Izzy, to give up a well -paid commercial job, what happened? That must have been 37 00:02:11,039 --> 00:02:12,040 quite a scary time. 38 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:17,380 It was something that I thought about for a while. I was in the studio. When I 39 00:02:17,380 --> 00:02:20,320 say studio, I mean the garden shed in my parents' house. Oh, brilliant. 40 00:02:20,900 --> 00:02:25,840 Making pots on a wheel. But I was loving it and I just thought, if I can't give 41 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,940 up now and try to make the dream happen, then when can I do it? 42 00:02:30,380 --> 00:02:35,160 To find out if Izzy had what it took to become a successful full -time potter... 43 00:02:35,420 --> 00:02:36,880 I gave her three challenges. 44 00:02:37,940 --> 00:02:42,540 First was making a volume piece, something she could produce quickly and 45 00:02:42,540 --> 00:02:43,700 for an affordable price. 46 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:48,680 Izzy chose to create a set of candlesticks priced at £28 each. 47 00:02:49,340 --> 00:02:53,680 Standing 10cm high, they were decorated with different coloured glazes. 48 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:59,080 First of all, I'm going to make the base of it. 49 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:04,780 And then I'm going to very loosely build up the form with the two different 50 00:03:04,780 --> 00:03:10,320 tiers, the disc tiers that are around the form, and then I will create the 51 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,020 opening that the candlestick will fit in. 52 00:03:14,740 --> 00:03:18,240 I press my fingers into the clay to create the shape. 53 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,920 It's a little bit wobbly. Just come off centre slightly. 54 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,020 I'm just taking a little bit of the moisture away from the clay. 55 00:03:42,860 --> 00:03:47,900 To help Izzy become a full -time potter, I teamed her up with Florian Gadsby. 56 00:03:48,100 --> 00:03:49,580 Hi. Hi. 57 00:03:50,140 --> 00:03:51,140 How's it going? 58 00:03:51,300 --> 00:03:56,080 One of the country's top ceramicists, Florian has millions of followers on 59 00:03:56,080 --> 00:04:00,720 social media, ensuring any new work he releases sells out in minutes. 60 00:04:01,510 --> 00:04:02,910 Izzy's chosen a candlestick. 61 00:04:03,110 --> 00:04:06,230 They're very good objects to make quickly because they require very 62 00:04:06,230 --> 00:04:10,510 finishing. You know, as long as she throws the opening accurately, then they 63 00:04:10,510 --> 00:04:13,110 should be fine. So I think it's quite an intelligent choice. It's different, and 64 00:04:13,110 --> 00:04:16,070 I think they're an object that I imagine people would buy multiples of. 65 00:04:18,190 --> 00:04:23,210 While Izzy was fully focused on her volume item, I grabbed Florian to chat 66 00:04:23,210 --> 00:04:24,350 through her second challenge. 67 00:04:25,290 --> 00:04:29,450 Before she arrived at my boot camp, I asked her to bring along a high -end, 68 00:04:29,510 --> 00:04:30,510 pricier piece. 69 00:04:31,460 --> 00:04:36,620 She chose to showcase a 10 -piece serving set with an asking price of 70 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,840 I think it's really interesting, you know, the idea of having all these pots 71 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:45,120 that you can lay out yourself and fill with food and then, you know, you'll 72 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:46,120 a nice meal around. 73 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:49,520 At the moment they're all kind of one beige colour and I think if she was 74 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,600 forward into making it, you know, a more sustainable business model, I think it 75 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,080 could be something that's quite fun if people are able to choose, you know, 76 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,920 a few of a different colour or they can even customise the entire set. 77 00:04:59,310 --> 00:05:01,810 Izzy was hoping to get £320 for the whole set. 78 00:05:02,170 --> 00:05:03,750 How many pieces is it, ten pieces? 79 00:05:03,970 --> 00:05:07,710 Yeah, a lot for the money. I think a bargain, and, you know, she's thinking 80 00:05:07,710 --> 00:05:10,270 about how they interlock, how she can combine them and make different 81 00:05:10,270 --> 00:05:13,110 combinations, so she's putting quite a lot of thought into it. 82 00:05:15,630 --> 00:05:20,010 Back in the pottery studio, Izzy had moved on to making the second of her 83 00:05:20,010 --> 00:05:21,270 collection of candlesticks. 84 00:05:22,630 --> 00:05:26,710 Making the body was a quick process, but making the space that would hold the 85 00:05:26,710 --> 00:05:28,510 candle was a precise job. 86 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:35,280 I've done a lot of testing to now I know exactly the millimeter that it needs to 87 00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:39,840 be measured across the diameter of the opening so that then accounting for 88 00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:45,060 shrinkage in the firing and when there's a glaze on there, it will snugly fit a 89 00:05:45,060 --> 00:05:47,280 candlestick, a standard candlestick in there. 90 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:54,020 I know that I want it to be about 2 .7, which luckily... 91 00:05:54,510 --> 00:05:58,250 It actually is. That actually has never happened to me before. 92 00:06:00,870 --> 00:06:05,070 Izzy repeated the process for the third and final candlestick of her collection. 93 00:06:06,410 --> 00:06:11,030 The next bit of the process is for them to dry out very slowly over a couple of 94 00:06:11,030 --> 00:06:15,920 weeks. Once they've dried out, I might give them a once -over with a sponge or 95 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,440 sanding pad just to make sure that there are no rough edges, and then I put my 96 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:24,180 maker's mark stamp in on the bottom, and then they are ready to be fired. 97 00:06:27,620 --> 00:06:32,960 Excluding drying, firing and glazing time, Izzy's candlesticks took around 15 98 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:34,520 minutes per piece to produce. 99 00:06:35,140 --> 00:06:40,840 With material costs of £18 for the three, she priced them at £28 each. 100 00:06:41,390 --> 00:06:42,850 I feel like you make these really quickly. 101 00:06:43,470 --> 00:06:45,430 Yeah, I mean, how long does it take you at the moment? 102 00:06:45,950 --> 00:06:49,230 Between 10 to 12, 15 minutes or so. 103 00:06:49,490 --> 00:06:53,430 OK, so, I mean, the only thing I might say is if you were to push this and 104 00:06:53,430 --> 00:06:57,010 really try and make them as more of a volume piece, you could try and get that 105 00:06:57,010 --> 00:06:59,190 to five minutes or less, three minutes per piece. 106 00:06:59,490 --> 00:07:00,590 Yeah. How many minutes? 107 00:07:00,990 --> 00:07:04,450 Well, you know, there are things you can do to help speed up the process quite 108 00:07:04,450 --> 00:07:08,390 dramatically. Yeah. Maybe making a jig that you can insert into the soft clay 109 00:07:08,390 --> 00:07:09,930 make the well faster. 110 00:07:10,350 --> 00:07:11,350 How about the price? 111 00:07:11,370 --> 00:07:12,910 They're quite a bespoke object. 112 00:07:13,170 --> 00:07:16,770 You know, they're table centrepieces. So I think people are probably going to 113 00:07:16,770 --> 00:07:18,670 buy a couple. So, yeah, I think it's fair. 114 00:07:20,430 --> 00:07:25,110 Both of Izzy's first two challenges got her a thumbs up from Florian and I. And 115 00:07:25,110 --> 00:07:29,590 for her final task, I asked her to make her favourite piece to see if the 116 00:07:29,590 --> 00:07:33,430 product she relished making the most could also make her big money. 117 00:07:34,970 --> 00:07:39,110 Izzy chose to make a plinth, a large bowl on a pedestal foot. 118 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:43,580 It was something that could be used as a centrepiece for a dinner party or a 119 00:07:43,580 --> 00:07:46,340 large fruit bowl and was priced at £180. 120 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:53,240 First of all, I just have to check that this large patty of clay I've got is the 121 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:57,640 right size. So I've made these before and I know what it should be. So we need 122 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:00,080 28 centimetres, which is about right. 123 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:02,260 And now I'm going to open up the middle. 124 00:08:07,580 --> 00:08:12,640 After opening up the centre of the clay, Izzy's next job was to raise the walls 125 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:13,640 to create the bowl. 126 00:08:18,060 --> 00:08:22,880 This is where I use the mirror to really check the form and the shape of the 127 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:24,060 bowl as I'm pulling it out. 128 00:08:26,580 --> 00:08:30,980 Now I need to measure the width of the bowl now that I've shaped it out a 129 00:08:30,980 --> 00:08:33,840 bit, which is pretty bang on. 130 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:39,720 I want to make sure that they're all the same size across because then if I'm 131 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,220 making a batch of them and selling them, then all the customers will be getting 132 00:08:43,220 --> 00:08:44,220 the same. 133 00:08:45,020 --> 00:08:49,340 Izzy was making good progress on her final piece, but she was keen to talk to 134 00:08:49,340 --> 00:08:51,140 Florian about marketing her work. 135 00:08:52,380 --> 00:08:57,460 Something that I know I need to develop is finding an audience for my work. And 136 00:08:57,460 --> 00:09:02,960 I know social media can be brilliant with that, but is there any... Other 137 00:09:03,100 --> 00:09:05,040 Other ways, or would you say... 138 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:08,580 it's social media is the best way to do it or do you go through stockists or 139 00:09:08,580 --> 00:09:12,840 what i think stockists can be really really good okay you just need to find 140 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:16,960 that you really love and you think your work would fit into their range of 141 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:20,520 products you want them to be relatable to you and you want to actually really 142 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:23,860 like the person if you don't get on well with the person you're selling with 143 00:09:23,860 --> 00:09:29,220 it's not really going to work after chatting to florian is he headed 144 00:09:29,220 --> 00:09:33,180 back to her potter's wheel to work on the base of the bowl section of her 145 00:09:34,090 --> 00:09:39,090 I'm going to trim off all of this excess clay here and shape into a nice rounded 146 00:09:39,090 --> 00:09:40,090 bowl. 147 00:09:40,290 --> 00:09:46,130 I really love this bit. It's very soothing and I love seeing these ribbons 148 00:09:46,130 --> 00:09:48,130 clay come out of the turning tool. 149 00:09:50,570 --> 00:09:55,410 Having trimmed off the excess clay, Izzy scored the bowl in preparation for 150 00:09:55,410 --> 00:09:56,710 joining it to the pedestal. 151 00:09:58,730 --> 00:10:00,310 That works well, I think. 152 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:08,240 slip which is water and clay but i've added in a little bit of vinegar as well 153 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:13,400 which hopefully will make the two pieces stick together a little bit more and 154 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:19,260 now i'm going to lightly place it on because i want to just make sure that 155 00:10:19,260 --> 00:10:25,660 centered that looks good the last final little small step is just to use the 156 00:10:25,660 --> 00:10:29,860 vinegar and the flip just to go around the edge to make sure that all of these 157 00:10:29,860 --> 00:10:35,700 little small gaps are filled in After that, dry it really slowly for maybe two 158 00:10:35,700 --> 00:10:39,380 weeks or so, because I want it to dry nice and slowly, prevent any cracks. 159 00:10:39,700 --> 00:10:43,860 And then it will go in the kiln for a bisque firing, and after that I would 160 00:10:43,860 --> 00:10:47,600 glaze it, and it would go in the kiln for its second firing, and then it would 161 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:48,600 be finished. 162 00:10:49,180 --> 00:10:54,040 Izzy's plimp, finished with a tasteful green glaze, was a real statement piece. 163 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:59,880 It had a make time of two and a half hours, and an asking price of £180. 164 00:11:02,199 --> 00:11:05,360 They're a nice statement piece. You know, they sit on the table. They're the 165 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:06,360 center of attention. 166 00:11:06,540 --> 00:11:10,720 But I think there are a few things that I think we could improve on. I think 167 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:15,140 glazing on the bottom near the foot, the ring, not quite at the bottom, you 168 00:11:15,140 --> 00:11:18,420 know, a little bit up. And I think there could be maybe a motif or a finish you 169 00:11:18,420 --> 00:11:22,440 could add to make it finish around the bottom a bit more comfortably. 170 00:11:22,740 --> 00:11:26,180 Yes. And then just things like the underside. I know you said it took you 171 00:11:26,180 --> 00:11:29,360 weeks to dry them. So we could talk about ways of artificially, you know. 172 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:33,080 drying the underside at the same time as the rest of the pot just to speed 173 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:37,320 things up what about the price it's quite a sculptural piece it's a 174 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:43,020 i think it's fair to help izzy make it as a full -time potter we gave her an 175 00:11:43,020 --> 00:11:48,020 action plan to take back to london first she needed to promote herself on social 176 00:11:48,020 --> 00:11:53,760 media to boost her profile and draw in potential buyers next she needed to work 177 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:58,680 at producing her pieces quicker and finally if she was going to collaborate 178 00:11:58,680 --> 00:12:02,600 a stockist She needed to find one she liked and could work with. 179 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:10,100 For the next two months, Izzy had Florian's continued support as she 180 00:12:10,100 --> 00:12:11,460 get her business off the ground. 181 00:12:11,820 --> 00:12:16,920 And she started by visiting his studio to get his top tips on promoting herself 182 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:18,000 on social media. 183 00:12:18,740 --> 00:12:19,980 Welcome to the studio. 184 00:12:20,340 --> 00:12:21,259 Oh, wow. 185 00:12:21,260 --> 00:12:22,260 This is it. 186 00:12:22,460 --> 00:12:23,460 This is it. 187 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:27,220 Florian talked me through how he captures his footage in the studio. 188 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:32,860 So he showed me the equipment that he uses, the software he uses when he's 189 00:12:32,860 --> 00:12:38,100 editing his footage, and also gave me an insight into how much he posts on 190 00:12:38,100 --> 00:12:42,940 social media and how he writes the captions of his posts as well to really 191 00:12:42,940 --> 00:12:43,940 his audience engaged. 192 00:12:44,020 --> 00:12:45,460 So that was all really useful. 193 00:12:46,010 --> 00:12:49,990 Izzy also works on developing her collection to include different colours. 194 00:12:50,290 --> 00:12:55,970 I've been thinking a lot about glazing and developing a range of glazes. So my 195 00:12:55,970 --> 00:13:01,350 next port of call will be doing a batch of glaze testing to see what I like and 196 00:13:01,350 --> 00:13:03,450 see what works well with different clay bodies. 197 00:13:03,750 --> 00:13:08,010 Up until now, I've just used the same old white stoneware, which has served me 198 00:13:08,010 --> 00:13:08,769 really well. 199 00:13:08,770 --> 00:13:13,730 But actually, I think it's time to see what else is out there and do some 200 00:13:13,730 --> 00:13:15,190 testing for clays as well. 201 00:13:15,740 --> 00:13:20,820 Izzy threw herself into acting on every suggestion we gave her. And two months 202 00:13:20,820 --> 00:13:24,020 later, she came back to see us with impressive news. 203 00:13:24,380 --> 00:13:27,260 I made £5 ,200. 204 00:13:27,740 --> 00:13:28,599 No way. 205 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:29,600 Wow. Yeah. 206 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:34,960 It's amazing from this point in your career. Thank you. That's an awful lot 207 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,880 money. Thank you. I can't quite believe it. 208 00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:43,440 Even after taking off her costs, Izzy was well on her way to having a fully 209 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:44,600 -fledged pottery business. 210 00:13:46,140 --> 00:13:50,480 Just over three and a half years later, I've come to her studio in South West 211 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:55,120 London to see how she's built exactly that and how much money she's making 212 00:13:56,660 --> 00:13:57,639 Izzy, hello. 213 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,660 You OK? Good, thanks. Welcome. Come in. It's good to see you. 214 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:05,240 Izzy's set -up has moved on a lot since I last saw her. 215 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:09,930 This place is... Absolutely beautiful. How has it come about? You started in 216 00:14:09,930 --> 00:14:12,030 your parents' shed, didn't you? I did. 217 00:14:12,890 --> 00:14:16,970 So that was my first studio. And then I moved on to a slightly bigger space. 218 00:14:17,670 --> 00:14:23,010 But I outgrew that actually quite quickly. I'd also decided I wanted to 219 00:14:23,010 --> 00:14:28,110 teaching business as well. I wanted some space to have more pottery wheels and 220 00:14:28,110 --> 00:14:31,550 perhaps some more kilns and just like growing that way. That's quite different 221 00:14:31,550 --> 00:14:32,550 to making though. 222 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:36,580 to go into teaching. What brought that on? I had kind of got to where I had 223 00:14:36,580 --> 00:14:41,620 always hoped I would be, which is being in a lovely studio, making pots. I had 224 00:14:41,620 --> 00:14:44,520 orders from stockists, and I was selling on my website a lot. 225 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:48,460 That's the dream, isn't it? It was the dream, and that is what I'd been aiming 226 00:14:48,460 --> 00:14:53,780 for. But actually, I was a little surprised that I started to feel a 227 00:14:53,780 --> 00:14:58,080 lonely, actually, and knew that I needed to make some kind of change to... 228 00:14:58,670 --> 00:15:03,690 to bring in some more so a social aspect to your life yeah good on you for 229 00:15:03,690 --> 00:15:08,490 actually shifting things around moving into this larger space shows just how 230 00:15:08,490 --> 00:15:12,970 much progress is made but it's great to see she's still making the candlesticks 231 00:15:12,970 --> 00:15:17,610 which were her volume piece at the boot camp They are my bestseller now. 232 00:15:17,830 --> 00:15:21,330 They're what I make the most of, they're what I sell the most of, both into 233 00:15:21,330 --> 00:15:23,510 shops but also on my website. 234 00:15:23,930 --> 00:15:27,890 The biggest retailer that I was really excited to work with was Fortnum and 235 00:15:28,510 --> 00:15:30,010 Oh, wow. I know. 236 00:15:30,530 --> 00:15:31,530 That's huge. 237 00:15:31,630 --> 00:15:36,230 It was a bit of a dream come true, really. It was what I had always dreamt 238 00:15:36,230 --> 00:15:40,230 happen but thought it would be much later down the line in my career. So 239 00:15:40,230 --> 00:15:44,390 that call came in, I was just, yeah, really over the moon. Couldn't really 240 00:15:44,390 --> 00:15:45,390 believe it. 241 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:50,040 Having her candlesticks stocked by such a well -known high -end shop is a 242 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:51,660 massive achievement for Izzy. 243 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:58,440 At the bootcamp, they sold for £28, but her more polished versions now sell for 244 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,000 £34 for the small ones and £40 for the larger ones. 245 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:06,480 And they're not the only thing driving her business forwards. 246 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,100 Tell me about the courses. Which courses do you run? 247 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:14,860 We do a beginner course, which is one session each week for five weeks. And 248 00:16:14,860 --> 00:16:19,980 takes you through the full process of making pots. And then after that, we've 249 00:16:19,980 --> 00:16:23,460 got a developer course, which is like an intermediate course. So that's 10 250 00:16:23,460 --> 00:16:27,580 weeks. And then we have a few other kind of sessions like taster classes. And we 251 00:16:27,580 --> 00:16:29,180 have full day courses as well. 252 00:16:29,380 --> 00:16:30,620 Might be a lot for you to do. 253 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:36,040 It is a lot, but it's not just me anymore because I've got a couple of 254 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:40,460 and actually hiring a couple more at the moment. And also I've got some studio 255 00:16:40,460 --> 00:16:45,100 assistants who help me keep everything running. So it's not only me. 256 00:16:45,340 --> 00:16:49,020 Wow. Things have grown so much. You've now got people helping. Yeah, it's 257 00:16:49,020 --> 00:16:50,140 escalated for sure. 258 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:56,800 A growing staff, high -end stockists and courses. Things really are going well 259 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:57,800 for Izzy. 260 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:04,640 Her five -week beginner courses are priced at £270, and she charges £450 per 261 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:06,780 person for the 10 -week developer course. 262 00:17:07,260 --> 00:17:12,000 It's great to see her diversifying her business, and she's set up a mug 263 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,160 so that I can try out one of her courses. 264 00:17:15,599 --> 00:17:17,180 I'm ready. I'm ready. 265 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:18,520 Apron's on. 266 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:19,560 Let's do it. 267 00:17:20,319 --> 00:17:23,359 We start by throwing our clay onto the wheel. 268 00:17:23,700 --> 00:17:28,069 Controlled by a foot pedal and with wet hands, Press the clay down before we 269 00:17:28,069 --> 00:17:30,270 start to form an upside -down cone shape. 270 00:17:31,210 --> 00:17:35,790 We want the top of this to be slightly domed. All up. So if you can squeeze the 271 00:17:35,790 --> 00:17:40,950 clay and just try and bring a bit of a curve shape on the top because then 272 00:17:40,950 --> 00:17:44,730 set up to go into our cone. Yeah, very nice. Yeah? Yeah, lovely. 273 00:17:45,450 --> 00:17:49,430 Lovely. And you're going to start pushing through the middle of the clay 274 00:17:49,490 --> 00:17:54,590 leaning into the side, and you're squeezing the clay between those two 275 00:17:54,590 --> 00:17:55,590 rising them up. 276 00:17:55,950 --> 00:18:00,070 And maybe let's get a little bit more water on your clay, but looking really 277 00:18:00,070 --> 00:18:01,070 nice. Good. 278 00:18:01,530 --> 00:18:05,990 To remove any air bubbles trapped in the clay, we push it back down and repeat 279 00:18:05,990 --> 00:18:08,750 the process before creating a donut shape. 280 00:18:09,390 --> 00:18:10,630 This is looking great. 281 00:18:10,890 --> 00:18:12,750 OK. You've jumped two steps. 282 00:18:12,990 --> 00:18:13,990 I love it. Have I? 283 00:18:14,170 --> 00:18:18,230 You have. This is the advanced class. No, no, no. I wish I'd done that without 284 00:18:18,230 --> 00:18:19,330 knowing. Brilliant. 285 00:18:19,750 --> 00:18:24,770 Now we're going to compress the base. So this is the bit that's smoothing out 286 00:18:24,770 --> 00:18:25,529 the floor. 287 00:18:25,530 --> 00:18:31,170 Up and down until you're happy that the floor is nice and smooth. 288 00:18:31,490 --> 00:18:35,150 To pull up the walls, your middle finger is doing most of the heavy lifting. 289 00:18:35,710 --> 00:18:39,510 Gently squeezing and keep on going all the way up to the top. In one, don't 290 00:18:39,510 --> 00:18:40,510 stop. Once you start. In one. 291 00:18:40,630 --> 00:18:45,270 And when you get to the top, you're just gently going to release the clay from 292 00:18:45,270 --> 00:18:46,270 your hands. 293 00:18:46,350 --> 00:18:47,350 Gently come away. 294 00:18:47,980 --> 00:18:48,980 And breathe. 295 00:18:49,660 --> 00:18:50,660 How did you know? 296 00:18:52,540 --> 00:18:56,120 It's a bit of a nerve -wracking moment, that first pull -up, thinking, oh, my 297 00:18:56,120 --> 00:18:57,120 God. 298 00:18:57,780 --> 00:19:01,160 Okay, okay, this is good. This is really good. 299 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:05,280 Once I've pulled it into something that almost looks like the shape and size of 300 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:08,460 a mug, Izzy's got a trick to help me tidy up the sides. 301 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:13,580 We can use one of these kidneys to kind of create a nice straight edge. Oh, 302 00:19:13,580 --> 00:19:16,460 nice. You're going to have your hand in there in the middle. Yeah. 303 00:19:17,130 --> 00:19:20,270 And you're really gently pushing the clay. 304 00:19:20,750 --> 00:19:23,690 So tilt the tool a little bit in. 305 00:19:24,150 --> 00:19:26,550 And then you can push out at the base, really. 306 00:19:27,230 --> 00:19:30,270 I think we leave it there. Perfect. I'm happy with that. Beautiful. I'm more 307 00:19:30,270 --> 00:19:32,030 than happy with that. You should be. 308 00:19:32,930 --> 00:19:35,830 Normally, our mugs would be allowed to dry for a few days. 309 00:19:36,410 --> 00:19:40,490 But Izzy has helped mine by drying it with a heat gun so we can move on to 310 00:19:40,490 --> 00:19:41,490 making the handle. 311 00:19:42,330 --> 00:19:44,130 This hand's just behind here. 312 00:19:44,570 --> 00:19:47,830 And you're going to push it on and give it a bit of a wiggle almost, pressing 313 00:19:47,830 --> 00:19:52,170 with your thumb just to blend those pieces in. 314 00:19:53,110 --> 00:19:58,210 Now you're going to wet your hand and just very gently, just kind of gently 315 00:19:58,210 --> 00:19:59,210 down. 316 00:20:00,510 --> 00:20:04,290 After attaching the handle, my mug actually looks like a mug. 317 00:20:04,490 --> 00:20:05,490 I love it. 318 00:20:05,530 --> 00:20:06,530 I love it. 319 00:20:06,870 --> 00:20:08,490 I'll treasure that. I really will. 320 00:20:08,730 --> 00:20:09,830 Oh, good. For a long time. 321 00:20:10,050 --> 00:20:11,050 Good. 322 00:20:11,510 --> 00:20:15,950 Izzy's going to get my mug fired and glazed so I can enjoy a cuppa from it 323 00:20:16,610 --> 00:20:20,990 Aside from collaborating with Stockist, which she's been hugely successful with, 324 00:20:21,150 --> 00:20:25,230 I'm keen to find out how much the rest of the advice we gave her at the 325 00:20:25,230 --> 00:20:27,130 has helped her to build her business. 326 00:20:29,150 --> 00:20:32,730 Izzy, when you came to the bootcamp, Florian and I gave you an action plan 327 00:20:32,730 --> 00:20:35,030 some key pointers to try and help you build this business. 328 00:20:35,310 --> 00:20:38,830 One of the pointers we wanted you to work on was your social media to gain a 329 00:20:38,830 --> 00:20:40,270 following and hopefully gain customers. 330 00:20:40,730 --> 00:20:44,450 This was something that Florian really helped me a lot with, actually. And he 331 00:20:44,450 --> 00:20:48,310 gave me a few really good tips around posting more regularly, the kind of 332 00:20:48,310 --> 00:20:52,710 content I was posting, telling a bit of a story behind the making process. 333 00:20:52,930 --> 00:20:55,910 And I did see a big increase in my followers. 334 00:20:56,170 --> 00:20:56,829 Did you? 335 00:20:56,830 --> 00:20:59,810 I did. I'm now on around 44 ,000. 336 00:21:00,130 --> 00:21:02,350 44 ,000? I think. Around that. And where were you before? 337 00:21:02,690 --> 00:21:06,470 One or 2 ,000, maybe? You gained over 40 ,000 followers. 338 00:21:07,170 --> 00:21:08,570 Yes, yeah, yeah. 339 00:21:08,830 --> 00:21:09,830 That's impressive. 340 00:21:10,430 --> 00:21:11,430 Thank you so much. 341 00:21:11,810 --> 00:21:17,050 Florian was very keen for you to increase your efficiency and the speed 342 00:21:17,050 --> 00:21:21,470 make things. I was making the candlestick holders in about 15 minutes, 343 00:21:21,770 --> 00:21:24,930 Yeah, and he wanted under five. And he wanted under five, which... 344 00:21:25,500 --> 00:21:29,220 Honestly, at the time, I kind of didn't know if that could even be done. 345 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:33,680 Yes. Are we under the five minutes, though? I think four or five minutes is 346 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:37,900 of how quickly I'd throw a candlestick holder now. I'm blown away by that. Four 347 00:21:37,900 --> 00:21:40,060 minutes? From having thrown so many. 348 00:21:40,740 --> 00:21:43,400 Izzy's nailed every part of her action plan. 349 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:48,120 By establishing a successful teaching business as well, she's gone even 350 00:21:48,540 --> 00:21:51,740 And I'm excited to find out how much money she's now making. 351 00:21:52,780 --> 00:21:56,180 Do you mind if we talk figures? How much is this all earning you at the moment? 352 00:21:56,380 --> 00:22:01,220 Based on both the teaching I've been doing and running the business and then 353 00:22:01,220 --> 00:22:07,100 also my own making, I've made around 50 grand is my earnings. 354 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:09,380 That's a lot of money. 355 00:22:09,900 --> 00:22:10,900 Yeah. Well done. 356 00:22:11,550 --> 00:22:14,290 You know what? You deserve every penny of it. You're making it work. 357 00:22:14,590 --> 00:22:17,970 Thank you. Yeah, I can't quite believe it because I'm now in a position where 358 00:22:17,970 --> 00:22:21,050 I'm earning more than I did in my corporate job before. 359 00:22:21,450 --> 00:22:26,090 But I love what I do. So I'm, you know, I'm just, I'm over the moon. That was a 360 00:22:26,090 --> 00:22:30,550 dream. Yeah. Three and a half years ago, Izzy's decision to leave a well -paid 361 00:22:30,550 --> 00:22:34,530 advertising job to pursue a career in pottery felt like a big leap. 362 00:22:34,970 --> 00:22:40,210 Now, with an income of £50 ,000 a year from making and teaching after taking 363 00:22:40,210 --> 00:22:43,550 her costs, it's a leap that's paid off magnificently. 364 00:22:43,930 --> 00:22:46,570 The last three years have been amazing. 365 00:22:46,910 --> 00:22:51,770 It's definitely been a lot of hard work, but I love that I get to work with Clay 366 00:22:51,770 --> 00:22:56,010 every day and it's something that I'm really passionate about and I'm able to 367 00:22:56,010 --> 00:22:57,050 share that with other people. 368 00:22:57,290 --> 00:23:00,650 And so overall, it's been really amazing. 369 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:09,240 The next maker whose progress we're going to be checking up on is teacher 370 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:11,400 fluid artist Gemma from Essex. 371 00:23:12,060 --> 00:23:16,780 She also came to my boot camp just over three and a half years ago, and like 372 00:23:16,780 --> 00:23:19,220 Izzy, was hoping we could help her with a career change. 373 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:23,780 I'm a teacher, and I've been a teacher for 13 years, and I love it, but it 374 00:23:23,780 --> 00:23:24,820 happened a bit by accident. 375 00:23:25,290 --> 00:23:28,850 I would have really loved to have had a career in art, but when I was applying 376 00:23:28,850 --> 00:23:32,990 to university, I was given some advice from a career advisor who said that 377 00:23:32,990 --> 00:23:36,730 was no chance of making a career in art, so why bother doing it at university? 378 00:23:37,130 --> 00:23:39,570 So that really set a course for where I am now. 379 00:23:40,170 --> 00:23:43,690 Gemma's work was a wonderful mix of chemistry and creativity. 380 00:23:44,310 --> 00:23:49,170 Using different oils, paints and water, she created flowing, multi -layered 381 00:23:49,170 --> 00:23:53,670 abstract pieces and had dreams of it helping her to live a more creative 382 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:58,580 I'm looking to completely change my life. I'm looking to start again and 383 00:23:58,580 --> 00:24:02,240 a business that will carve out a future for me in art. 384 00:24:04,660 --> 00:24:08,860 To help Gemma make the new start she was hoping for, she was mentored by 385 00:24:08,860 --> 00:24:10,940 professional artist Sharon Walters. 386 00:24:12,340 --> 00:24:16,900 Sharon has collaborated with the Tate and the National Portrait Gallery and 387 00:24:16,900 --> 00:24:20,180 keen to help Gemma turn her talent into a successful business. 388 00:24:21,770 --> 00:24:25,590 You can see with Gemma she's actually passionate about what she does. Her work 389 00:24:25,590 --> 00:24:26,730 is so beautiful. 390 00:24:26,930 --> 00:24:32,270 It incorporates nature and I think she has a great approach to creating unique 391 00:24:32,270 --> 00:24:34,070 work in an abstract way. 392 00:24:34,970 --> 00:24:40,150 For her volume piece, Gemma made three sets of fluid art coasters on slate, 393 00:24:40,410 --> 00:24:43,610 porcelain and wood, priced at £18 each. 394 00:24:44,070 --> 00:24:46,130 I love the uniqueness of this work. 395 00:24:46,350 --> 00:24:48,150 Can you talk me through the process? 396 00:24:48,530 --> 00:24:50,070 Yeah, so this is... 397 00:24:50,270 --> 00:24:56,230 a base of just a pouring medium um which will dry clear yeah so things like pva 398 00:24:56,230 --> 00:25:00,250 glue yeah sort of um and when this dries clear you'll be able to see the wood 399 00:25:00,250 --> 00:25:04,810 underneath so now i'm building up the different layers this paint i've mixed 400 00:25:04,810 --> 00:25:09,670 already so it's got paint conditioner in which creates the fluid movement and 401 00:25:09,670 --> 00:25:14,270 also means that they don't cross over and blend unless i make them blend which 402 00:25:14,270 --> 00:25:17,320 keeps their distinct yeah How are you getting on business life? 403 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:22,740 At the moment, I think I've got a hobby which pays for itself and gives me a bit 404 00:25:22,740 --> 00:25:26,920 of extra pocket money. I don't think I've got the makings of a new life yet 405 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:27,920 career. 406 00:25:29,140 --> 00:25:33,400 Whilst Gemma pushed on with her volume piece, Sharon and I sat down to talk 407 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:34,580 about her high -end item. 408 00:25:35,620 --> 00:25:39,460 She'd upcycled a small chest of drawers she'd bought for £20. 409 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:44,100 Decorated with a fluid art design, it had a price tag of £200. 410 00:25:45,860 --> 00:25:51,780 I love the idea of using paintwork on a piece of furniture, but I'm not sure 411 00:25:51,780 --> 00:25:53,040 that's the right piece of furniture. 412 00:25:53,300 --> 00:25:55,980 You know what, I completely agree with you. When I saw the camera too, I just 413 00:25:55,980 --> 00:25:59,360 thought that would be brilliant on some furniture. Just not that bit of 414 00:25:59,360 --> 00:26:02,640 furniture. No, not that bit of furniture. Mid -century cleaner design, 415 00:26:02,660 --> 00:26:05,920 could just be on a piece of plywood set in to a panel or something like that. 416 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,920 There's a lot more to think about, I think, around the furniture side of 417 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:13,720 Back in the artist's corner. 418 00:26:14,170 --> 00:26:17,650 Gemma had reached a delicate stage in producing one of her coasters. 419 00:26:19,070 --> 00:26:24,030 The pipette is going to create a slightly different effect, particularly 420 00:26:24,030 --> 00:26:24,909 this is thinner. 421 00:26:24,910 --> 00:26:27,350 This looks like such a therapeutic process. 422 00:26:28,190 --> 00:26:29,470 It's incredibly therapeutic. 423 00:26:30,230 --> 00:26:33,750 I'm going to manipulate it and move it around. In this case, just using a 424 00:26:33,750 --> 00:26:35,910 toothpick, but you can do it with lots and lots of different things. 425 00:26:36,890 --> 00:26:42,370 Allow a certain amount of blending so you get this kind of marbled effect. 426 00:26:43,340 --> 00:26:47,220 Once Gemma was happy with the design, she gave it a helping hand to set. 427 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:58,320 The blowtorching is going to just help it to set and also start activating in 428 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:00,440 the looser paint colours some of the cells. 429 00:27:01,260 --> 00:27:04,480 You can see that one's already splitting and that one. 430 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:07,940 And that will continue over the next hour or so. 431 00:27:08,220 --> 00:27:09,620 So how long do they take to set? 432 00:27:09,820 --> 00:27:11,560 To get completely dry before I can put... 433 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:15,680 A second layer on which will be resin somewhere about two days. Okay. 434 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:20,180 Plain resin to protect the coaster but also make it really glossy and really 435 00:27:20,180 --> 00:27:21,180 shiny. 436 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:28,360 Excluding drying time, Gemma's coaster sets had a make time of three and a half 437 00:27:28,360 --> 00:27:33,640 hours, material costs of £6 .50 and a price tag of £18 per set. 438 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:38,580 I actually love coasters. I can't believe I'm admitting this but I really, 439 00:27:38,700 --> 00:27:39,700 really love coasters. 440 00:27:40,220 --> 00:27:43,180 And I think these feel like more of a luxury item. 441 00:27:43,540 --> 00:27:47,920 But I would suggest possibly having a different kind of storage for these in 442 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:48,920 terms of your packaging. 443 00:27:49,180 --> 00:27:55,400 If you had maybe a wooden type storage where these could actually sit and be 444 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:58,340 stored in a really good way, I think that would work really well. And you 445 00:27:58,340 --> 00:28:00,740 charge slightly more for them that way. That's a brilliant idea. 446 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:07,060 I definitely feel that I can learn a lot from some of the feedback that I got, 447 00:28:07,100 --> 00:28:10,360 especially from Sharon. But it was lovely to hear that they liked them 448 00:28:10,360 --> 00:28:13,560 when your heart and soul has gone into something, it's good to know that that's 449 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:15,240 being reflected and shown to other people. 450 00:28:16,340 --> 00:28:20,780 Sharon believed that with some tweaks, Gemma's first two items had the 451 00:28:20,780 --> 00:28:22,900 to be popular and profitable products. 452 00:28:23,740 --> 00:28:27,380 For her third challenge, we asked her to produce her favourite piece. 453 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:30,640 To discover if what she loved creating most... 454 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:32,420 could win over customers too. 455 00:28:33,100 --> 00:28:38,480 She chose to make a seaside triptych, a painting made up of three separate and 456 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:45,080 in this case identically sized canvases, showcasing a seascape priced at £130. 457 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:50,480 This is base coat. This has to be more fluid than the rest of the paint that 458 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:53,120 going to put on because this is going to be the medium through which everything 459 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:54,120 else happens. 460 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:59,460 So if this bit isn't the right chemical make -up and isn't the right viscosity, 461 00:28:59,660 --> 00:29:02,750 the rest... will not behave the way I want it to. 462 00:29:03,550 --> 00:29:07,990 With her base layer complete, Gemma started to add extra layers of paint. 463 00:29:08,510 --> 00:29:12,990 This is called a Dutch pour, so we're going to essentially cover up the paint 464 00:29:12,990 --> 00:29:19,970 and then use the hairdryer to reveal the paint, which has this poetry with the 465 00:29:19,970 --> 00:29:25,770 actual ocean and the sand because the wind would blow the ocean in the sea 466 00:29:25,770 --> 00:29:26,770 spray. 467 00:29:28,129 --> 00:29:32,110 As Gemma's process was so unique, Sharon was keen to take a look. 468 00:29:32,650 --> 00:29:33,650 Hi, Gemma. 469 00:29:33,770 --> 00:29:34,990 Hi. How's it going? 470 00:29:35,830 --> 00:29:39,430 Really well. Just creating this sea effect. 471 00:29:39,950 --> 00:29:43,350 But it needs a bit of manipulation and playing with now, so I'm going to use my 472 00:29:43,350 --> 00:29:46,570 mouth and this drawer to kind of move that around and then to move these 473 00:29:46,570 --> 00:29:50,330 as well. You can feel the movement in the piece, and I love the use of colours 474 00:29:50,330 --> 00:29:52,850 in this work. Thank you. I really love the use of colours. 475 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:04,140 I think she's kind of holding on to it like, oh, it's a bit experimental, but 476 00:30:04,140 --> 00:30:06,040 experiments can be art. 477 00:30:08,260 --> 00:30:12,020 She needs to place some value on what she's actually doing and believe in 478 00:30:12,020 --> 00:30:13,020 herself more. 479 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:18,780 Gemma's seaside triptych was a beautiful piece of abstract art and she gave it 480 00:30:18,780 --> 00:30:20,440 an asking price of £130. 481 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:24,780 I think it's a brilliant piece of work and really exemplifies the work that 482 00:30:24,780 --> 00:30:27,300 you've been doing. Just wonderful, really well done. 483 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:28,880 How about the price? 484 00:30:29,180 --> 00:30:32,900 I think that's a really reasonable price for an original piece of artwork. 485 00:30:33,300 --> 00:30:36,920 In terms of where you would sell it, I really think that it would do really 486 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:40,020 in a gallery, so maybe a smaller gallery -type space. 487 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:44,060 By the sea? Yeah, by the sea. Yeah, you'd get a really good market there. 488 00:30:44,420 --> 00:30:46,780 So useful and just ready and raring to go. 489 00:30:48,220 --> 00:30:52,940 As she headed home to Essex, we gave Gemma an action plan to help make her 490 00:30:52,940 --> 00:30:55,280 of becoming a full -time artist come true. 491 00:30:56,990 --> 00:31:01,990 First, she needed to work on more luxurious packaging for her wooden 492 00:31:01,990 --> 00:31:03,510 help boost their prices and profit. 493 00:31:04,570 --> 00:31:08,570 Next, we wanted her to contact seaside galleries to sell her seascapes. 494 00:31:09,750 --> 00:31:14,130 Finally, she needed to believe in herself and put her art out there to 495 00:31:18,310 --> 00:31:22,990 For the next two months, Sharon supported Gemma as she worked around the 496 00:31:22,990 --> 00:31:24,710 to get her business off the ground. 497 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:27,020 Starting with contacting galleries. 498 00:31:27,300 --> 00:31:32,420 I've been really inspired by the advice about creating more seascape work and 499 00:31:32,420 --> 00:31:36,400 targeting galleries along the seafront for those. 500 00:31:36,620 --> 00:31:41,220 So I've been working on a few new techniques, for example, using resin 501 00:31:41,220 --> 00:31:47,540 with silicone oil to create some really exciting bubble effects in artworks. I 502 00:31:47,540 --> 00:31:51,300 also have been thinking about how I can make my coaster range more upmarket for 503 00:31:51,300 --> 00:31:52,269 shops. 504 00:31:52,270 --> 00:31:55,710 So this is quite difficult because I've been working on a few different styles 505 00:31:55,710 --> 00:31:57,810 of boxes, but they do come out quite expensive. 506 00:31:59,650 --> 00:32:04,090 To try and sell her work, Gemma travelled to an upmarket makers festival 507 00:32:04,090 --> 00:32:09,030 Oxfordshire. It was a real test of the self -confidence she needed to develop 508 00:32:09,030 --> 00:32:10,030 build her business. 509 00:32:10,250 --> 00:32:13,110 And after the first day, she had good news. 510 00:32:14,570 --> 00:32:20,450 Sold my big triptych, which is great. Really excited about that one. Also lots 511 00:32:20,450 --> 00:32:21,450 of coasters sold. 512 00:32:22,570 --> 00:32:25,850 Over the next three days, the good news kept on coming. 513 00:32:26,350 --> 00:32:30,110 The coasters have been selling really well and a few smaller pieces of art. 514 00:32:30,110 --> 00:32:31,310 been quite a good art day today. 515 00:32:31,530 --> 00:32:35,990 Sold lots of art. Sold out of trays, sold out of small pots. 516 00:32:36,190 --> 00:32:37,430 So it's been really good. 517 00:32:39,050 --> 00:32:43,810 In the eight weeks after my boot camp, Gemma tackled her action plan with real 518 00:32:43,810 --> 00:32:45,070 drive and determination. 519 00:32:45,450 --> 00:32:49,230 And when she reported back, she blew us away with her progress. 520 00:32:49,830 --> 00:32:51,010 How much have you made? 521 00:32:51,670 --> 00:32:57,450 I've taken £4 ,300, which is incredible. No! Well done. 522 00:32:58,030 --> 00:32:59,030 Thank you. 523 00:33:00,210 --> 00:33:04,630 Gemma had to deduct her costs from her brilliant sales figure, but she'd put 524 00:33:04,630 --> 00:33:06,770 herself on track to having real success. 525 00:33:08,300 --> 00:33:11,520 Three and a half years later, lots has changed in Gemma's life. 526 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:17,220 Almost two years ago, she gave birth to daughter Wren, and she's very recently 527 00:33:17,220 --> 00:33:18,220 moved house. 528 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:22,920 She's also been working hard on her business, and I've asked Sharon to pop 529 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:26,600 to find out what she's achieved and how much cash she's bringing in now. 530 00:33:27,100 --> 00:33:29,140 Hi, how are you? 531 00:33:29,740 --> 00:33:33,780 Good to see you. Yeah, come in. I can't wait to see. 532 00:33:35,180 --> 00:33:39,080 Up until a few days ago, Gemma was working from her dining room table. 533 00:33:39,660 --> 00:33:44,420 But after moving house, she now has her own studio and it's already looking 534 00:33:44,420 --> 00:33:45,420 fabulous. 535 00:33:46,220 --> 00:33:47,220 This is beautiful. 536 00:33:47,540 --> 00:33:50,640 You must be so happy here. I love the space. 537 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:53,340 How has this changed your practice? 538 00:33:53,740 --> 00:33:57,420 Having lots more space to be able to work on multiple things at once is going 539 00:33:57,420 --> 00:34:00,620 be a game changer. I can do big pieces, leave them and then work on other 540 00:34:00,620 --> 00:34:03,240 things. And then hopefully once I'm embedded... 541 00:34:03,850 --> 00:34:09,449 have more workshops i've done one um right but in a hired village hall space 542 00:34:09,449 --> 00:34:16,010 which is great um but the problem is the artwork has to dry for quite a few days 543 00:34:16,010 --> 00:34:19,190 laying completely still so you're having to hire a space for a much longer 544 00:34:19,190 --> 00:34:23,389 period afterwards while everyone's work is drying here i'm going to be able to 545 00:34:23,389 --> 00:34:27,850 have you know 10 12 people in leave the work dry post it to them afterwards 546 00:34:28,529 --> 00:34:32,469 those things are going to mean that I can step back a little bit from the 547 00:34:32,469 --> 00:34:37,050 side. That's the long -term goal. After you left boot camp, how did you manage 548 00:34:37,050 --> 00:34:38,050 to grow the business? 549 00:34:38,770 --> 00:34:41,570 It was a really steep learning curve. 550 00:34:41,989 --> 00:34:43,690 I had so many commissions. 551 00:34:45,639 --> 00:34:49,280 Over about an 18 -month period, over 200 commissions. Wow, that's fantastic. 552 00:34:49,780 --> 00:34:54,719 Yeah. I've been selling everything ranging from kind of £50 or £60, the 553 00:34:54,719 --> 00:34:58,260 pieces, right the way up to over £1 ,000, some of my commissions. 554 00:34:58,980 --> 00:35:04,180 Both Dom, your advice, the kickstart that it gave me, made such a difference. 555 00:35:04,540 --> 00:35:06,580 So what pieces are selling the best for you? 556 00:35:06,860 --> 00:35:13,460 Art -wise, the smaller pieces, the 30cm, 20cm panels, they're kind of £50, £60. 557 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:18,840 coasters. I was selling them in fours but I've moved to two of those and I 558 00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:20,500 them for about £18 for a pair. 559 00:35:21,620 --> 00:35:25,580 It's great to hear that the coasters Gemma made for her volume piece are 560 00:35:25,580 --> 00:35:26,580 popular. 561 00:35:27,020 --> 00:35:30,980 Along with her commissioned work like this triptych which has recently sold 562 00:35:30,980 --> 00:35:36,600 £385 and the big blue wave canvas for £442. 563 00:35:37,740 --> 00:35:40,320 She's also been busy developing new pieces. 564 00:35:40,710 --> 00:35:47,010 and now makes 3d art priced between 80 to 800 pounds depending on size jemma's 565 00:35:47,010 --> 00:35:52,670 going to show sharon how she makes one called droplets on petals she starts by 566 00:35:52,670 --> 00:35:58,030 rolling out air drying clay wets the board which forms her canvas with water 567 00:35:58,030 --> 00:36:03,970 begins to create the petals the idea is that you essentially see what happens 568 00:36:03,970 --> 00:36:07,900 organically with the clay You're kind of going to have a bit of a play. 569 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:09,600 Play with the clay. Yeah. 570 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:14,080 I'm seeing kind of how things feel as I'm moving it around. 571 00:36:14,460 --> 00:36:21,120 And because I'm going for petals with water that's going to sit in them, I 572 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:23,020 it to take this kind of organic shape. 573 00:36:23,540 --> 00:36:28,500 I'm going to take some part out and then this is me moulding it then to the 574 00:36:28,500 --> 00:36:30,520 board. I have to make these little grooves. 575 00:36:30,970 --> 00:36:33,750 which I'll sand down because otherwise the resin and the paint will just all 576 00:36:33,750 --> 00:36:34,569 pour off. 577 00:36:34,570 --> 00:36:38,810 If I want this area to pull paint and resin, then this needs to be lower. 578 00:36:39,070 --> 00:36:41,930 What's been your biggest successes since boot camp, do you think? 579 00:36:42,350 --> 00:36:48,710 I've had successes with major commissions, selling things that are 580 00:36:48,790 --> 00:36:51,550 having people come back, purchase again and again. 581 00:36:52,410 --> 00:36:55,810 Successes like being able to move into the studio. This is a pretty massive 582 00:36:55,810 --> 00:36:57,890 success because being able to run. 583 00:36:58,580 --> 00:37:02,260 workshops for larger groups of people i've got 20 28 people at the moment so 584 00:37:02,260 --> 00:37:07,780 good but obviously like the biggest success that's happened since i thought 585 00:37:07,780 --> 00:37:13,340 laughed with i had my daughter it wasn't even an art thing as the clay needs 586 00:37:13,340 --> 00:37:18,400 around a week to dry jemma's prepped one that's already dried sanded and primed 587 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:24,620 with a water repellent layer ready for painting the next stage is to paint the 588 00:37:24,620 --> 00:37:30,480 background yeah which is this nice kind of neutral color the paint has to be 589 00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:34,800 mixed with various different paint conditioners if you want to create 590 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:38,640 effects so imagine you wanted a blue paint to sit slightly on top of a white 591 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:41,580 paint it would need to be a different thickness so i think i'm 592 00:37:42,430 --> 00:37:46,310 Pretty much there with the background. So I'm going to add the colour now. Do 593 00:37:46,310 --> 00:37:47,670 you feel excited with this bit? 594 00:37:47,950 --> 00:37:50,490 I do feel excited, but it's a scary bit. 595 00:37:50,810 --> 00:37:54,890 You can't do this bit again if it goes wrong. You can lift the clay back up, 596 00:37:54,890 --> 00:38:00,010 can, you know, clean resin off, but this is a do -or -die moment, really. 597 00:38:00,230 --> 00:38:02,430 And here I am, peering over your shoulder. 598 00:38:02,890 --> 00:38:06,210 No pressure, Gemma, but just do it really well. Yeah, just don't mess up. 599 00:38:07,850 --> 00:38:09,190 Gemma, I'm wishing you well. 600 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:14,660 A combination of pre -mixed coloured paints are poured into a mini tray and 601 00:38:14,660 --> 00:38:15,980 applied to the clay shapes. 602 00:38:18,420 --> 00:38:24,500 She then uses a hairdryer, straw and 603 00:38:24,500 --> 00:38:29,800 palette knife to move the colours across the canvas to look like petals. 604 00:38:30,680 --> 00:38:32,280 Interesting seeing this process. 605 00:38:34,240 --> 00:38:38,420 Finally, a blowtorch helps pop any air bubbles that have formed in the paint. 606 00:38:39,230 --> 00:38:44,650 This will have to stay completely still for a week until it dries. 607 00:38:44,970 --> 00:38:48,850 I've had artworks that I've laid down to dry, gone to bed, go up in the morning, 608 00:38:48,870 --> 00:38:52,870 and they weren't completely flat, and all the paint just slid off, destroying 609 00:38:52,870 --> 00:38:55,470 it, and all that work's gone. Yeah, exactly. 610 00:38:55,870 --> 00:39:00,370 To show Sharon the finishing touches, Gemma's prepared another piece that's 611 00:39:00,370 --> 00:39:05,570 already dried and adds silicone oil and resin to create the effect of water 612 00:39:05,570 --> 00:39:06,570 droplets. 613 00:39:06,920 --> 00:39:12,320 What the silicone oil does is repels the resin, like water and oil, basically, 614 00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:14,780 so that it creates this bubble effect. 615 00:39:17,660 --> 00:39:23,960 After all of the tiny droplets have been placed meticulously, it's going to take 616 00:39:23,960 --> 00:39:29,320 a few days for the resin to cure, and after that, you have a finished piece. 617 00:39:30,820 --> 00:39:35,580 Gemma's Droplets on Petals 3D canvas has material costs of £42. 618 00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:43,020 a make time of around three weeks and is priced at 340 pounds it's great to see 619 00:39:43,020 --> 00:39:47,100 her having the confidence to produce new work as well as hearing about all her 620 00:39:47,100 --> 00:39:51,800 success and i'm keen to find out how the action plan we gave her at the boot 621 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:56,180 camp three and a half years ago has helped to build her business and improve 622 00:39:56,180 --> 00:39:57,180 bank balance 623 00:39:57,710 --> 00:40:03,210 One of the things we asked you to do was to maybe upscale your packaging for 624 00:40:03,210 --> 00:40:08,030 your coasters. Have you stuck to that? What I ended up doing was upscaling for 625 00:40:08,030 --> 00:40:12,090 different environments. So I packaged them in different ways depending on 626 00:40:12,090 --> 00:40:13,090 they're going to. 627 00:40:13,480 --> 00:40:16,540 But the actual full -blown boxes worked out quite expensive. 628 00:40:16,860 --> 00:40:19,520 So I moved away from that eventually. 629 00:40:19,780 --> 00:40:23,120 But, yeah, I've still taken that message on board and created different 630 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:24,120 packaging overall. 631 00:40:24,160 --> 00:40:28,040 Another thing that I mentioned to you was that it was really important that 632 00:40:28,040 --> 00:40:32,200 started to believe in yourself more and to really put your art out there. It 633 00:40:32,200 --> 00:40:33,380 looks as though you've done that. 634 00:40:33,820 --> 00:40:36,940 Having worked with lots of people for commissions now, I have confidence in 635 00:40:36,940 --> 00:40:39,640 process, in getting positive feedback from people. 636 00:40:39,900 --> 00:40:41,580 That's really supported that confidence. 637 00:40:42,060 --> 00:40:45,780 I think when you try something new, it knocks you down a peg. You have to 638 00:40:45,780 --> 00:40:46,940 rebuild the confidence again. 639 00:40:47,220 --> 00:40:49,900 So ebbs and flows with that. Of course. 640 00:40:50,160 --> 00:40:55,200 I do think, even if you don't realise it, you are far more confident than you 641 00:40:55,200 --> 00:40:58,100 were. So it's great to see. Really good to see. 642 00:40:58,320 --> 00:40:59,320 Thank you. 643 00:41:00,680 --> 00:41:01,960 I agree with Sharon. 644 00:41:02,680 --> 00:41:07,560 Gemma's built her confidence and a business with old favourites, new pieces 645 00:41:07,560 --> 00:41:12,180 workshops. I can't wait to find out what it all means for her finances. 646 00:41:12,660 --> 00:41:16,280 When you were at boot camp, one of the main things you wanted to do was to make 647 00:41:16,280 --> 00:41:17,940 money. How have you gotten on with that? 648 00:41:18,300 --> 00:41:21,860 Obviously, I had my first year after boot camp, then I had my daughter. 649 00:41:22,120 --> 00:41:27,100 So I've really only returned this year back to full pelt next phase of the 650 00:41:27,100 --> 00:41:28,100 business. 651 00:41:28,800 --> 00:41:33,180 I'm on track this year after cost to pay myself about £35 ,000. 652 00:41:33,540 --> 00:41:35,700 Wow, that's fantastic. How do you feel? 653 00:41:35,980 --> 00:41:40,880 I feel delighted. I was really nervous post -maternity because it went so well 654 00:41:40,880 --> 00:41:47,600 before. I was like, you know, that's the belief thing. You think, am I the same? 655 00:41:47,720 --> 00:41:49,120 Are people going to buy back into me? 656 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:54,500 And so after maternity leave, having things pick back up incredibly, it felt 657 00:41:54,500 --> 00:41:57,580 really exciting, but it's validating. 658 00:41:58,540 --> 00:42:02,700 The art has worth. It has worth for me, and it also has worth to other people. 659 00:42:03,840 --> 00:42:09,560 Earning £35 ,000 a year off the costs so soon after returning to work following 660 00:42:09,560 --> 00:42:13,940 the birth of her daughter is a phenomenal achievement for Gemma. 661 00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:18,920 She currently still works three days a week as a teacher, but is on course to 662 00:42:18,920 --> 00:42:21,980 fulfilling her dream of becoming a full -time artist. 663 00:42:23,050 --> 00:42:27,830 The last three and a half years have been a bit of a roller coaster. Post 664 00:42:27,830 --> 00:42:34,230 camp, I had the most amazing pickup in business and it was such a steep 665 00:42:34,230 --> 00:42:39,030 curve. Since having my baby, I've had to start all over again and coming to 666 00:42:39,030 --> 00:42:44,390 where I am now, starting this next phase, it's up from here. That's how it 667 00:42:44,390 --> 00:42:45,390 feels. 668 00:42:46,410 --> 00:42:49,490 Building a creative business takes more than just talent. 669 00:42:49,950 --> 00:42:54,270 You need resilience and ability to think on your feet and a real focus on 670 00:42:54,270 --> 00:42:56,270 exactly what you want your business to be. 671 00:42:57,050 --> 00:43:01,050 Over the past three and a half years, Gemma and Izzy have proved that they've 672 00:43:01,050 --> 00:43:06,010 got all of these things in spades. And I've absolutely no doubt they'll both go 673 00:43:06,010 --> 00:43:07,990 on to even bigger and better things. 674 00:43:10,410 --> 00:43:12,850 Want some help building a business that lasts? 675 00:43:13,210 --> 00:43:18,210 Visit the Open University's interactive guide for practical help to sustain and 676 00:43:18,210 --> 00:43:19,210 grow your business. 677 00:43:19,880 --> 00:43:26,760 Scan the QR code on the screen or visit connect .open .ac .uk forward slash 678 00:43:26,760 --> 00:43:28,260 I made it at market.