Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Thompson.
Hi Linda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always loved art and creating. As an adult, I expanded my interests in media, including sewing, woodworking, painting, jewelry designing, and more. Once my children were grown, I found pottery and fell in love. I started with the potter’s wheel, learning to throw from a community recreation center in CA where I lived. As much as I loved it, I noticed various sculptural & hand-built pieces. I was instantly drawn towards hand-building and started learning – trial by error. My instructor would guide me when I brought pieces in for firing, telling me ‘why this didn’t work’ and to ‘do this – not that,’ helping me to learn and develop my skills as a sculptor. I was addicted and, over time, became better and better.
Selling my work was always challenging; shows can be expensive, and the set-ups, including tables, displays, tents, shelves, signage, and more, were a hefty price. On top of the expense was the packing up inventory, hauling and carting them to and from, hopefully without breakage or loss. It was a ton of work & long days with no guarantees. I looked at selling retail and found that the typical consignment price was 40% – 50% or even more, which I needed to do better.
My life changed dramatically in 2017, and in 2020, I landed in Hampton, SC. Hampton is a sleepy little country town, and I have fallen in love with the area and the people in the community. Wanting desperately to return to doing the artwork I loved, I stumbled upon the opportunity to open my studio in downtown Hampton. Now, I could do what I love, teach it, and set up the front as an Artisan Gallery Gift Shop, giving other artists and makers a place to sell their work for a fair amount. On June 26, 2021, I opened Linda’s Art Expressions on Lee Ave., in downtown Hampton, SC. I love it! I can create every day if I choose to do so and teach not just pottery but a variety of art for adults and children.
The Potter’s Wheel is on many people’s ‘Bucket List’ and has been very popular. Other people like hand-building, so I offer both a four-week class in basic hand-building and small ‘project classes’ where the project is manageable and there is less time and financial commitment. Looking to attract a variety of people, the project classes are only sometimes working with clay but other media as well. Kids’ classes are scheduled periodically on Saturdays and are always only $10 per child, including cookies and juice.
Besides these things, I set up special classes and projects for groups. For instance, we did a class with a college sorority, church youth groups, families, clubs, and groups of friends who just wanted to have a night out and create. Last summer, I held a two-week art camp for kids throughout the county. I take requests for consignment work and sell gift certificates for classes and purchases in the Gallery. Everything in the Gallery is handmade by someone, and the variety is tremendous. There are crocheted blankets, stuffed toys, wood turning, painting, cards, calligraphy, pot art, jewelry, and, of course, lots of pottery and, my favorite, ceramic sculptures. I have done well for a sleepy little town. I am looking forward to growing and being a strong small business to help attract more businesses and people to our growing community. Still, the best part is that I have met so many wonderful people and have my little community of friends who come in to play or visit. People here support me and are so encouraging and great. They have made Hampton home to me.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I was lucky; so many things seemed to fall into place when I opened, which told me I was meant to be here. I’ve had issues with the building itself, but I keep working through them. My biggest challenge by far is exposure. Hampton is not huge, and when Highway 95 went through, it devastated Hampton, like so many other small towns here in the South. The highway took the traffic away, bypassing the town entirely and killing many businesses. Getting people to know we are here and giving them a reason to come is difficult. Aside from referrals and word of mouth, I primarily advertise through Facebook and do a live video each week to expose the studio/gallery as much as possible, but it is a slow process.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As stated earlier, my primary work is ceramic sculpting, pottery, and teaching the same. What makes me different, I don’t know; I create what moves and excites me. People, faces, hands, and the human body are a huge challenge to me. Creating different characteristics, aging, etc., speaks to me, and I am always, always trying to perfect. I hate to mass produce. I am curious to know how potters throw 20, 40, or more mugs or bowls or whatever in a day and do it day after day. Kill me now! I love hand painting on my pottery, carving, or adding onto pieces, and no two are ever alike. That makes me different.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Small businesses put their hearts, souls, and lives on the line to be successful and contribute to their communities. I hope people understand, support, and believe in that. The beauty of the world is the diversity in it. How boring would the world be if we all looked, dressed, did the same, and bought the same? Yet that is what retail has become. Big chain stores have the same mass-produced, pressed, processed, and over-saturated products. Small businesses offer new options and choices that are often unique and one-of-a-kind, many handmade, high-quality items made from love. Please support small businesses in your community.
Pricing:
- Fantastic, reasonable prices you won’t get other places
- All artists price their own work.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: Linda’s Art Expressions
