Made With a Bailey Interview Featuring Sunny Hess

Made With A Bailey Interview featuring Sunny Hess

Website: www.sunnyhesspottery.com

Instagram: @sunnyhesspottery

TikTok: @sunnyhesspottery

Facebook: Facebook.com/sunnyhesspottery

Tell us about yourself, how did you get started working in clay?

I’m Sunny.  I live in Frederick, Maryland and I’m a stay-at-home-parent to my two children.  I started working in clay almost 5 years ago a few weeks after my oldest child turned one.  After dealing with infertility for several years and eventually having success through IVF, I quit my (very loved) job in television production to stay home with my first child.  It was everything I wanted to be able to stay home with them but my Postpartum Anxiety was crippling.  

A new therapist encouraged me to find something outside of my home that was just for me. A few days later I found myself in a pottery class with a friend.  I have always loved pottery but besides a lifetime of crafting (scrapbooking, crochet, quilting) and a middle school required credit, I had never really taken an art class.  I channeled my creative energy into music as a high school and college band member.  

After a few years, a lockdown and a second baby, my husband encouraged me to build my own home studio where I now have my own Bailey Pro X pottery wheel and Bailey Mini-Might Slab roller as well as an L&L Kiln.  I am so grateful to have a supportive partner who pushes me to take time for myself and grow my skills and business.

I think my struggle with Postpartum Anxiety and identity is a common story among new parents but not one that we really talk about a lot. I hope that by sharing my experience it encourages other people to talk about their struggles or encourages them to try something new.

Where do you find inspiration for your imagery, color palette, and overall style?

I love a neutral base with a pop of color.  Most of my pieces are white with either raw clay designs or a touch of green or blue.  I’m drawn to flowers and plants, Scandinavian and Nordic folk art, as well as celestial bodies and the changing seasons.  This year I am pushing myself to add a little more color which has been fun to experiment with. 

What are your favorite pieces to make and why?

I love making mugs and I love making planters.  Mugs are such a cozy, personal piece so I like to imagine people reaching for them every morning when I’m working on them.  My goal is to make pieces that are USED and make people smile.  I feel like people have such a connection with mugs in their routines that it makes them fun for me to make.  I also love houseplants and feel like the same thing happens with plant people- people who fill their home with plants really love taking the time to care for them so it is special to make thoughtful pots for their plants.  A lot of my repeat customers are coming back for mugs and planters to add to their collections and it makes me so happy to see those familiar faces again and again.

Can you tell us about your Bailey equipment and how it helps you create your work?

I have a Bailey Pro X pottery wheel and a Bailey mini-might slab roller.  I learned to throw at my community studio on a Bailey and when I was researching for my own wheel, I kept coming back to the big splash pan and counter.  I love that the splash pan is one piece (and so big!) and the attached counter is always covered in tools and my mirror so I can't imagine having anything else.  I also love making things like trays and trinket dishes so I wanted a slab roller but didn’t have the space for a big one.  The Mini-Might has been such a lifesaver for rolling out slabs- it fits right on an IKEA island that I’ve had for 10 years so I was also able to give old furniture new life in my studio with it too!

What are you most excited to work on or try next in the studio?

2024 is my year of exploring surface design.  I have been playing with slip for the first time and bought an Air Pen that I am looking forward to trying.  I’ve been pushing myself to use more color and more complicated stencils in my designs and it has been fun to go a little outside of my comfort zone.  I also have a few new holiday ornament designs in the works that I think my local customers will be really excited about. 

Do you use Bailey equipment to create your work? When posting your work on social media, remember to tag your post with #madewithabailey so we can continue to grow our Bailey clay community!