We had the good fortune of connecting with Madeline Sandler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madeline, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Society provides a very concise yet vague outline of what our lives should look like from a very young age. We are told to do well in school and get good grades so you can get accepted to a 4-year college where you will receive a degree in a field that is guaranteed to get you a good 9-5 job. You will work very hard at this job and earn some money until you retire. In between, you should fall in love, have a family and buy a house and a nice car. Being a product of such similar expectations inflicted by society, I adopted this framework for my life and often neglected my hobbies and passions to focus on school or work. I dug deeply into my classes and my work spaces, always searching for a shred of passion, something that would spark enough interest for me to want to commit my energy to a certain field. I convinced myself that my hobbies are to be kept on the side while I spend 40 hours of my week working for other people because that is the sacrifice we make to have a stable income. We are often fed the idea that artists can never make it, that being creative is just something you are, not necessarily a skill that can be utilized as a career. I always interpreted those who quit their jobs and do art for a living as bold risk takers, finding it difficult to understand how they could make it work. When I picked up ceramics nearly 4 years ago, I had no intentions of what this craft would become for me. As it became quickly apparent to me, I loved it. I loved it more than I loved any class I have ever taken, or any job I have ever work. I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel somewhat guilty about this. I poured every free moment of my day into ceramics. When I was in my studio, I would lose track of time. When I left my studio, all I could think about was ceramics. This spark was palpable, it was something I felt I had been searching for in my life for years. So, why did I feel so guilty about feeling it? Because it is an art. I realized I have internalized the idea that art is only a hobby for pretty much my entire life, so finding my love and talent for ceramics felt like an unattainable reality. For the last 2 years, I have maintained part time jobs while I filled the rest of my time teaching pottery classes, making small collections for shows and my website, and fulfilling custom orders. I find myself often splitting my energy between two very different worlds: my jobs, where I supplement my income and feel a sense of ‘stability’, and the craft where my heart resides. With the onset of Covid-19, I was no longer able to go to work at my part time job. Much like a majority of Americans, I found myself in the conundrum of unemployment during a global pandemic. While I took some time to panic about this, it quickly became very clear to me that ceramics was not something I had to abandon during shelter in place. So, I used the abundance of time I had during quarantine to give my energy 100% to my small business, instead of the 50% I have been maintaining for some time. This experience provided me with overwhelming clarity. I have been running away from my passions, talents and opportunities to cling on to a sense of security I have internalized from society for years. It was only in the last 3 months that I decided I will be focusing entirely on my ceramics career and trusting that I have what it takes to be successful doing something I love. I am pursuing this artistic career because I have made a personal commitment to myself to follow my heart and intuition above all and that putting the expectations and ideas of others’ above your own is a complete disservice to the unique set of talents and skills we as individuals bring forth into this world.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I make handcrafted ceramic wares for the home and heart inspired by my experiences with the earth. My pieces range from wearable art, home decor and vessels for food and drink, all made with love and intention. The energy and time I put into my pieces I think is what makes ceramics and my art so special. It is a craft that truly requires patience, flexibility and insights exponential learning and growth. I am incredibly proud of the progress I have made in the past few years as an artist, creative and business woman. I have had to learn so much in the realm of transitioning my side hobby into a passionate and thriving small business; and I am still continuing to learn every day. The process was not something I would consider easy and I have had many challenges to overcome. Although this craft is where my passion and heart are pulled consistently, the transition was one that required a lot of me. It took time to develop confidence to market my art and myself in a way that feels genuine, honest and unique. I had to adapt to the idea of pricing my art and finding ways to navigate valuing my time and energy while making a living wage. I had to learn to say ‘no’ to things that did not align with my vision (sounds easy, but sometimes saying no can be very difficult)! I learned to trust in the universe that I am exactly where I am supposed to be and that I deserve to follow my heart wherever it may lead. I had to learn to ask for help instead of trying to do everything on my own; they say it takes a village which now I understand. Many of these challenges and more are things I still face often. I am growing and learning and unlearning ways of being and viewing the world and myself as I move deeper into this experience of being a full time artist and creative. I want the world to know that being an artist is so much more to me than just selling my art. This craft truly comes from my heart and hands and reflects my experiences and inspiration gathered from the world around me. I weave sustainability and intention into everything I make. When people choose to support my business, Earthen Hands Ceramics, they are not just buying an item, they are supporting my dream.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many fun and beautiful places to visit in San Diego it is difficult to narrow it down! Whenever I have friends come to visit, I jam pack our schedule with healthy doses of food, drink, art, music and nature so they can get the full experience of the place I call home. Just to name a few of my favorite things: Food/Drink Visiting farmer’s markets in San Diego, eat delicious food and support local businesses and farmers! My favorite ones are Leucadia, Carlsbad, North Park and Hillcrest. Kindred for vegan eats and cocktails in South Park Modern Times Brewery for beer and vegan comfort food in Leucadia Phatties in Escondido for the best vegan mexican food! Stone Brewery in Escondido is a beautiful place to hangout and great beer! Flavors of East Africa in San Diego Awash Ethiopian Market in North Park Visit: Del Mar Fair if it is summer time. Mostly to see art and music! Day trip to Julian to go on some hikes or camp in the mountains Balboa Park for a full day of visiting museums and the botanical gardens World Beat Center for amazing events and cultural resources Queen Bee’s Cultural Center in North Park for slam poetry and other fun events Scripps Coastal Reserve in La Jolla for ocean views and learning about natural history Beaches in Encinitas for swimming, lounging & surfing Hike Daly Ranch in Escondido Hike Del Dios Highlands Preserve in Escondido Thrift Shopping (Captain’s Helm, Goodwill, Valley Thrift)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not be where I am today without the support of my community. I have a bountiful network of family, friends and creatives who have supported my art and vision from the very beginning. I feel incredibly privileged and grateful to have the opportunities I am provided and to feel truly capable and supported. I would like to first shoutout Fire and Mud Studios for being an incredible place to create and teach and for providing a space to be surrounded by other amazing artists and friends. I would also like to shoutout my parents for being so patient and understanding with me as I consistently challenge the status quo and always trust my visions and support my art. I am so grateful to have parents that support my dreams and don’t just tell me I need to go out and get a ‘normal job’. Shoutout to my friend Claire who designed my website and created the most beautiful platform to display my art and vision and has been so supportive throughout this journey. I would also love to shoutout my partner Koree for his unwavering love and support by always recognizing and uplifting my passions, being an incredible listener and providing honest feedback. Also a huge shoutout to my best friend Annabelle who has been nothing short of a role model in my life; a sister, an incredibly multi-talented artist and community organizer who has given me a platform to share my art and has been a support system in more ways that 1 from the very beginning. I love you all and I am so thankful!

Website: earthenhandsceramics.com
Instagram: @earthen.hands.ceramics
Linkedin: Madeline Sandler

Image Credits
Photos of Madeline by Masood Shah

Nominate someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.