By Nicole Boado

Teacher by day, potter by night. This is the life of middle school special education teacher Talia Boado. What started as a small hobby she picked up to entertain herself in the middle of the pandemic has become a major creative outlet for her.

Boado, 30, began her pottery journey at the start of 2021 at Artesana Pottery, a small pottery studio in Union City, N.J. Started two years ago by Ana Gonzalez, a Hudson County local and potter who has worked with clay since 1995, Artesana Pottery is a cozy space for those interested in taking ceramics classes with Gonzalez.

Boado discussed how she came across Artesana Pottery and what made her fall in love with the art of pottery.

When and why did you decide to get into pottery?

I think it’s been officially two years since I took my first class ever. I started with just, like, a one-day workshop where, you know, she just kind of gives you a crash course, and I really liked it, so I kept taking classes. I’ve been taking classes consistently since September, every month. And I got into it because I’ve always wanted to try pottery on the wheel, like, since I’ve seen it on TV or whatever. It seemed really cool and I really wanted to try it. And I was also kind of just looking for a new hobby in the middle of the pandemic and I saw that someone was posting her studio, someone I know, and then I just convinced my friends to do the workshop with me and then I just kept going.

Union City, NJ – Talia Boado poses in front of a sign that reads “Artesana Pottery” on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Artesana Pottery is a pottery studio in Hudson County run by Ana Gonzalez where those interested can sign up for classes. (Photo Credit/Nicole Boado)

What do you love about pottery? What’s your favorite part?

What do I love about pottery? I don’t know, everything! I think it’s just cool to be able to make something with my hands. I also like that the pieces are functional pieces, like functional art. I think I’ve always been kind of artistic but I struggle with thinking of things to paint or to make. I’m always like, “Oh I wanna draw, I wanna paint.” But I’m like, “Oh, what do I paint?” And pottery’s kind of cool because sometimes I’ll just let the clay be what it wants to be, you know? Sometimes I’ll go in with an idea and it’s not that and then it just ends up turning into something else, which is cool.

It’s also pretty meditative, I really like that. Like, I get in my zone. The hours fly by and it doesn’t even feel like anything. I think my favorite part is, I mean, obviously seeing the things come out of the kiln once they’re already glazed. Glazing is stressful but just seeing the final product is probably my favorite part.

Union City, NJ – Talia Boado throws clay on the pottery wheel on Thursday, April 6, 2023. (Photo Credit/Nicole Boado)

What are your favorite pieces to make?

I like making pieces where I have to attach other things to it. I just started learning how to make jars, which has been a lot of fun. I’ve made a lot of ashtrays. I like making ashtrays, I’ve gotten pretty good at them. But I’m still learning, so I haven’t, you know, learned how to make everything. We’re gonna start making teapots soon, so I’m looking forward to that. But yeah I like making things where I have to attach stuff to it.

How often do you do pottery?

I’ve been taking classes consistently since September. I have my class with my teacher once a week, which my day is Wednesday evenings. And then there are open studio days four times a week. So I go every week once and then I try to go to open studio at least another day. So it’s definitely at least twice a week, sometimes, like, four times a week. It depends on if I want to practice, if I have time to go and practice, if I have to finish pieces.

Union City, NJ – Talia Boado checks on her dried pottery pieces on Thursday, April 6, 2023. (Photo Credit/Nicole Boado)

Why did you decide to set up a pottery station in your apartment?

Although I said I’ve been going consistently since September, she actually closed the studio in January because she was going on vacation. And I was like, “Oh my God, what am I gonna do without the studio?” So, I was like, “Oh I can try hand-building at home.” I saw that it was pretty easy to make a little workspace. I bought some table off of Facebook marketplace and then bought concrete boards. And, I don’t know, it’s kinda cool to just also be able to, like, you know, play around with clay at home if I want, even though I can’t fire anything. I can make stuff and then take it to the studio to fire, which I did in January. I hand-built something in January and then I fired it in the studio.

Would you ever consider selling any of your pieces or opening up a shop?

Right now, I definitely probably wouldn’t open a shop. I have a full-time job and that’s not sustainable at all. If I wanted to sell pottery full-time it would have to be a full-time thing. But I’m not opposed to selling pieces. I don’t think I feel that confident yet to actively post and say things are for sale. If someone reaches out to me and wants to buy something, I wouldn’t mind selling it to them. But right now I’ve only been gifting my things, gifting things to my friends and family.

Union City, NJ – Talia Boado holds up one of her completed pieces on Sunday, April 9, 2023. This is the finished product after glazing. (Photo Credit/Nicole Boado)

Do you think that it’s worth the investment of time and money?

I would say so. I mean, it’s worth the investment for me because it brings me a lot of joy. But it’s also something, like, if I really wanted to, I could sell the pieces I make and I could get enough money to pay for my classes, my monthly classes, you know what I mean? So it would be kind of paying for itself, which I could get there at some point. I think, you know, if I sold a few pieces here and there to people who were interested, I could probably pay for my classes. So yeah I do think it’s worth the investment. And I love it, so, you know, that’s priceless.

Union City, NJ – Talia Boado trims one of her dried pieces on Thursday, April 6, 2023. This allows her to clean up the piece and add any details. (Photo Credit/Nicole Boado)