Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Karan Witham-Walsh. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Karan, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
Optimism is truly a trait that comes from my mom. She was always an encourager, and glass half full type of person. I know being raised with that optimistic take on life embedded that trait in my psyche. Having a faith in things beyond myself also helps to give me an optimism in my approach to life, and has allowed me to never feel as I am totally alone. I also have the support of my wonderful husband and kids, and with this unwavering support, it enables me to continue to approach life with my optimistic approach.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My career has been spent in the visual arts- and spreading the joy of sharing the visual arts with others. My path has taken some twists and turns, and I am truly excited where I am at this moment. I have been teaching ceramics at the largest high school in the state of Ohio, and have built a program over the years of which I am truly proud. I am in my 33rd year of teaching this year, and am preparing for my retirement from my teaching gig in May of 2025, at the end of my 34th year. This to me is one of the most exciting steps in my career that I can’t wait to embrace.
Within my time as a potter and visual arts teacher, I started a YouTube channel as a means of making demo videos for my students. I initially started making them as help for kids who were absent and missed my in class demo. I quickly found that they were much more effective way for me to share a LOT of knowledge with my kids- and a means of helping them to personalize their own learning. I have been gratified to find that they have reached a huge worldwide audience- well beyond the walls of my classroom. One of my immediate goals in my YouTube endeavor is to reach the milestone of 100,000 subscribers within the next year- maybe by the end of this school year- and to celebrate this with my students. I’m excited to get my YouTube subscribe button plaque! I plan on continuing to grow and build my channel in the coming years- to help support others with their ceramic education! I am currently working on developing a series of “best practices “videos to help others- especially new teachers who may be teaching ceramics with some key information to help them be successful in their teaching.
Upon my upcoming retirement from teaching high school, I look forward to the opportunity to focus more on building my own personal body of work and entering my work into various shows and avenues for getting it out in the public eye. I also plan on focusing on traveling and presenting workshops to continue to share my knowledge and love of clay with others.
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?
Preparedness, Resilience, and Reflection are truly the three essential qualities or skills that have allowed me to become the artist and teacher I am.
Firstly, Preparedness can not be underestimated in teaching. Preparedness covers so many things. One aspect I would like to specifically address is that I have always have created things first before ever teaching the information to kids. I make examples for them to see. By creating things prior to asking kids to create something, I have learned the pitfalls and struggles that they might encounter when they begin their own work. I have had student teachers who come to me without realizing how important that is – and when they are ill prepared, it shows up dramatically in their teaching, and the kids and their work suffers.
Secondly, Resilience is perhaps one of the most important characteristics necessary to develop as an artist. Things do not always go as planned. Especially in the media of clay. Developing Resilience and the ability to pivot and approach things with an new vigor will help anyone regardless of where they are in life. Walls aren’t always walls… sometimes they are just a redirection through a door you didn’t notice.
Thirdly, the two above items would be of little benefit without reflection. Reflecting on the progress and outcomes of our endeavors will always benefit and help develop growth. Without reflection, we are destined to make the same mistakes over and over. Reflection helps us to focus on what we have done well and not done well, and put our future energies in the positive direction.
These three qualities have served me well in life, as a potter and artist, and as a teacher of the visual arts.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am definitely at the stage of my career that I am looking to collaborate. My retirement goal in the next year and a half will allow this collaboration to truly happen more than ever possible. I look forward to developing relationships with various art developers and art centers to be able to travel, meet people, and present workshops to spread the joy of clay with others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KaransPotsAndGlass
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karanspotsandglass/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaransPotsAndGlass
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karan-witham-walsh
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/KaransPotsAndGlass
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@karanspotsandglass
Image Credits
Karan Witham-Walsh
