Ceramic bead artist Kylie Parry
Q: When did you start your career as a ceramic artist? What did you do before you became a bead artist and what made you decide to become one? Was this transition difficult?
I was sleeping on my best friend’s futon during my last year of college, completely broke, after blowing my summer wages on a road trip to Las Vegas. Out of desperation, I found Etsy and opened a shop to sell some of the ceramic pendants I was making on the side in my studio pottery course. I was working towards an art education degree, but daydreamed about being a professional artist. I made a sale. I MADE A SALE!...it was exhilarating. I was hooked.
Q: Can you tell a bit about the early days of Kylie Parry Studio?
I made beads. Lots of beads. I bought an old kiln on Ebay from a maker of casted ceramic cats. It journeyed 8 hours from its home in Michigan, to my apartment, to my parent’s garage, to another rental house, to my current home, over the course of a couple years. In between kiln locations and life events, I worked random part-time jobs, traveled, and did a smattering of grown-up things. I searched for a “real” job (just hard enough to keep up appearances). One day I received a phone call for an interview (for said “real” job). I cried. That was my ‘aha’ moment. I turned down the interview, burned
all my business casual clothes (not really), and made it a goal (and priority) to be my own boss.
Q: Are you self-taught?
Somewhat. I took a couple ceramics courses in college, and that gave me a good foundation of basic knowledge. However, I graduated not even knowing how to properly run a kiln. Or start a blog. Or submit an art show application. I learned most of what I know from “google university”...you know, when you don’t know how to do something, so you google it.