Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna.
Hi Anna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I first discovered ceramics in college, when I enrolled in an entry-level course while navigating the challenges of an autoimmune illness that was affecting my motor skills. Working with clay became a form of healing, helping me rebuild coordination and strength while giving me a space to create with my hands. I’ve now been teaching ceramics for almost five years, an experience that has deepened my understanding of the craft and continues to shape the way I work. In my studio, I enjoy making a mix of useful, everyday pieces and playful, sculptural pieces—objects that people can both live with and smile at, reflecting the balance of function and joy that clay has brought into my own life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Clay resists perfection, and it’s in that resistance that I’ve found my reason to keep learning. By its nature, you can’t achieve perfection right away—or ever, for that matter. Pieces break, collapse, or come out differently than you planned. Over time, it has taught me how to fail well, to embrace mistakes as part of the process, and to find growth in setbacks.
Sharing my work with the public carries its own challenges, often stirring up imposter syndrome or the discouragement of feeling like I’m not doing enough. Yet the process continually reminds me that my identity is not defined by the outcome of my work.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work combines both wheel throwing and handbuilding, bringing together the structure of the wheel with the expressive freedom of hand-formed techniques. I enjoy creating pieces that balance function with playfulness, often incorporating movement, texture, and playful color palettes to give each piece character and energy.
I’m thankful for the progress I’ve seen in my work over the years and for the people who have encouraged and supported me along the way, helping me grow in both skill and perspective. I’m also grateful for the perseverance that has carried me through seasons when my health made working with clay more difficult. Those experiences have shaped not only my practice, but also the way I value the process of making. At the center of my work is connection—each piece is designed to be useful while also offering moments of joy and reflection, bringing beauty into the rhythms of everyday life.
How do you think about happiness?
I love the rhythm of sitting at the wheel or shaping clay by hand, but even more, I love seeing the way a finished piece can become part of someone’s daily life.
Movement, texture, and color all bring me joy in the studio because they give me freedom to explore, but the deeper happiness comes from sharing that work—whether it’s guiding students in a class, watching someone carry a new mug home, or experiencing how clay quietly deepens my faith.
Again, the process reminds me that joy is found not in perfection, but in growth, presence, and connection.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheToadBazaar
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anna.nantz
