We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Madi White. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Madi below.
Madi, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Well, does anyone really overcome it completely? Imposter syndrome is like a gremlin in your ear, just waiting to hear the right thing and twist it into an attack on your competence and belonging. I don’t think any of us truly slay the beast in this regard, but what has worked for me personally is befriending it.
For example, in my first-ever market I looked over the vendor list a couple of days beforehand and noticed there were at least six other ceramicists set to sell for the same day- and worse, they all seemed to have a gajillion followers on instagram compared to my lowly 300. I didn’t even know exactly what my table set up was going to look like, and these were seasoned professionals!! I was, as they say, cooked.
Then the morning of the market, I went in early to set up my table with plenty of time and eventually had some free time to pop around the market before opening. It didn’t take long to find myself chatting with the other ceramicists there, and throughout the day, slowly befriending them. Turns out, having a bunch of followers on Instagram, or having done a bunch of markets before didn’t make these people unapproachable gods. Instead, they were ceramicists trying to make it in LA- just like me! The imposter gremlin gets really quiet once you make friends with that which brings it out. Best part is- one of the people I met that day is now a good friend of mine, and having someone who knows exactly what I mean when I complain about an underglaze burning out is the best gift a ceramicist could ask for.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Of course! So in 2024, I started Touchstone, a ceramic art and design brand centered on the ‘high-touch’ points of life. We touch things over and over throughout every day- things like light switches, drink coasters, bag hooks- you get the idea! So I wanted to design art and home goods actually worth returning to. So many details can be overlooked that have the potential to completely change a space, and I love bringing an unexpected touchpoint into every room.
It wasn’t until this year that I started hosting tile classes as well. It’s a great way to spend a few hours with a friend on a Saturday and tiles are the perfect blank canvas for hyperfixating. With the ICE raids happening around LA, the classes are also a great way to get people together for a good cause, so I’m actually hosting a fundraising Tile Class on Saturday, July 26th at Forager Crafts. The event will have already passed by the time this comes out, but all ticket proceeds will be donated to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and the class will be pay-what-you-can. Modu Cafe in Highland Park is donating some tarts and flashbrew for the event as well, so it’s sure to be a great time!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Hmmm… this is tough. I think one of them has to be just generally being a kind person. People want to work with kind people! We’ve all had that job or gig where there’s one person who’s stirring up trouble, gossipy, or just straight-up mean, and while they sometimes continue to work due to their skill or relationships, I’ve found nine times out of ten people are like ‘man, that guy sucked. Let’s not hire him again’. If you can generally be a good person, are nice to be around, and maybe even have a sense of humor- you’ll find yourself building connections with the people you actually want to work with.
Second would be just showing up. As an introvert- I hate to say it. JUST SHOW UP! When that imposter syndrome sneaks up on me or I tell myself that something doesn’t really need to happen today, it keeps me (and my business) stuck in one place. Time and time again I’ve done events, markets or studio days and find amazing opportunities given to me that I wouldn’t have been able to jump on had I not shown up. So just do it, you never know what may be waiting for you.
Third has to be getting good at R&D. As a ceramicist, there’s so many ideas floating around your head at all times about what you could make, but odds are it won’t turn out on the first iteration. Maybe not even the 30th. (I’m not crying, you’re crying.) It’s one of the greatest treasures and biggest curses of ceramics: you can’t get too attached to one piece or idea, because it may crack, explode, get dropped, ruined by a crappy glaze job, or break in transit. All this to say, when you get to the point of seeing a vision come to life in clay, there’s nothing better. Closest I’ll get to doing hard drugs. So, save yourself some time and tears; lock in your R&D systems.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Honestly, if Julia Cameron led a cult I may have to consider myself a part of it. The Artist’s Way is a book I was gifted at the start of the pandemic, and while I didn’t throw my life savings down the drain and become a career artist then and there, it certainly made me think there could be another path for me. The book is a great catalyst for unlearning narratives about who we are, and is essentially a 12-week, self-inflicted therapy program for creativity. Almost everyone I know has a copy somewhere on their bookshelf but has never actually finished it.
Funnily enough, I just started to go through it for a second time just a couple weeks ago, and it still hits. I’m sharing about the experience over on my Substack, Five Times Fast, for anyone who’s curious!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://touchstone-la.com
- Instagram: @touchstone.la
- Other: Substack: https://touchstonela.substack.com/
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