1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 What if the best way to find your creative motivation is to stop waiting for it? For Kristi Somers of Earthen Somers Kiln, sometimes all it takes is walking into her studio, sitting down, and putting her hands in the clay. In this episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, Dionne Woods welcomes Kristi, a self-taught ceramic artist, lifelong creative, and hairstylist of 49 years, for a conversation about hand-built pottery, creative courage, curiosity, family, and the importance of continuing to challenge ourselves at every age. Kristi discovered hand-building with clay approximately 14 years ago. Although she has learned from wonderful mentors, much of her artistic education has come through experimentation, persistence, and simply being willing to try. Her pottery reflects her love for organic shapes, natural textures, and the freedom of working with clay by hand. But creativity has been part of Kristi's life for as long as she can remember. From childhood drawing, sewing, and embroidery to gardening, ceramics, and her newest exploration of watercolor painting, Kristi believes we should never stop learning. No matter our age, there's always something new to discover. And this woman certainly knows how to embrace an adventure! When she's not working with clay, Kristi enjoys riding motorcycles with her husband, hiking, zip lining, and riding the biggest, fastest roller coasters she can find. She's even gone skydiving! During our conversation, Kristi shares how she reconnects with her creativity when motivation runs low, why spending time in nature helps her feel inspired, and what she's learned about patience through the pottery-making process. One of her favorite sayings is: “Let patience be your foundation and let courage be your fire.” For an artist who works with earth and fire, those words are especially meaningful. We also talk about how our definition of success changes as we grow older. For Kristi, success today feels freeing and forgiving. It's about family, meaningful experiences, learning, and creating pieces that will be loved for years to come. Kristi lives in Zanesville, Ohio, with her husband Joseph, a devoted supporter of her creative journey, and their two dachshunds. Together they have four children and eight grandchildren, with another granddaughter expected in February. IN THIS EPISODE, WE EXPLORE: Discovering hand-built pottery and becoming a self-taught ceramic artist Learning new creative skills at any age Finding motivation by simply putting your hands in the clay Organic, free-form pottery and nature-inspired ceramics The importance of mentors, experimentation, and practice Creativity beyond one medium, from sewing and embroidery to watercolor Staying curious and embracing new challenges Patience, courage, and the lessons clay teaches us Finding inspiration outdoors Balancing a lifelong career with a growing artistic practice How our definition of success changes over time Creating handmade pottery that can become meaningful family heirlooms Finding joy in family, adventure, and the creative process Kristi hopes her pottery will bless others and become treasured heirloom pieces, finding a place not only in someone's home but also in their heart. Her beautiful ceramics were featured in the Summer Escape volume of The Turquoise Iris Journal. Whether you're an experienced artist, a beginner interested in pottery, or someone wondering whether it's too late to explore a new creative passion, Kristi's story offers a wonderful reminder: You don't have to know exactly what you're doing to begin. You just have to stay curious enough to try. CONNECT WITH KRISTI SOMERS Earthen Somers Kiln Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristi_earthensomerskiln/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/earthensomerskiln Girl UPcycled Studio: https://girlsupcycledstudio.com ABOUT THE MOTIVATARIAN EXCHANGE Hosted by Dionne Woods, The Motivatarian Exchange shares conversations with creative women, artists, entrepreneurs, and visionaries about courageous expression, curious exploration, and connected growth. Explore more at https://theturquoiseiris.com/ and https://theturquoiseirisjournal.com/. Share your business with The Motivatarian Exchange audience! We're offering 30-second, host-read podcast sponsorships for just $100 per spot! It's a simple way to introduce your business, product, or service to our creative community. Interested? Learn more and request your sponsorship here. The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods https://www.theturquoiseirisjournal.com/podcast/ <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/43666484/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/208800759