Meet Laura Caroline Casas of Casas Studios

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Caroline Casas

Hi Laura Caroline, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always liked playing in the dirt. I grew up spending a lot of time outdoors and creating things with my hands from the resources I had access to at the time – twigs, feathers and mud. Today, have a pretty similar routine, although, a bit more structured. I took my first pottery class while attending Western Carolina University and immersed myself in the medium. The passion my professor, Heather Mae Erickson, exuded, was the most inspired I had felt in a long time. After graduating in 2018, I set out to share that passion and pursue a career the arts; eventually finding myself in Raleigh, NC.
My attraction to clay begins with subtle and obvious connections. Of course, at the time, I did not realize how all of my childhood experiences would combine. The vibrant art and culture of my Mexican father as well as the music, stories and traditions shared by my North Carolinian mother.
At the core of it all, clay connects me to cooking and cooking to family. Cooking a meal for someone, acts of service. The tenderness of caring for someone/something. Sharing stories, history and knowledge with others. Clay connects me to the earth; tactile, seedlings, growth, nourishment and life. Through clay, I can maintain a connection with the land, family, history, myself and others.
These days, you can find me teaching handbuilding, wheel throwing and a few specialty classes at various art centers around the triangle such as, The Pullen Arts Center, The Makery and The Wake Forest Renaissance Center. While I am not teaching, I am making pots from my home studio located just north of Raleigh.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Burn-Out. At the beginning of my career, after graduating with my art degree, the constant fear of disappointing others who supported me was at the core of my motivation. I felt that I had to prove to myself and to others that my degree meant something. Despite all of this, I learned a lot about my priorities, my values and howto spot the red flags. I am discovering new ways to look at the work that I am doing and find purpose; allowing for a more sustainable way to stay motivated.
At the beginning of my career, after graduating with my art degree, the constant fear of disappointing others who supported me was at the core of my motivation. I felt that I had to prove to myself and to others that my degree meant something. Often thinking about what other avenues I should have taken that would have been a bit more profitable. This unhealthy connection to my self-worth, led to many periods of feeling burn-out, but never allowing myself to recover. Through this, I learned a lot about my priorities, my values and how to spot the red flags. I am discovering new and more sustainable ways to look at the work that I am doing and find purpose.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Casas Studios?
I established Casas Studios within a 130 sqft studio space at The Carter Building in 2020. This is where I made my pottery, displayed my items for sale and held many online classes and workshops. My husband was actually the one who encouraged me to reach out to see if there was space available to rent. He discovered The Carter Building and noticed a few empty rooms while on the search for my engagement ring – having it made at Metamorphosis Metals – one of the many other metalsmiths and artisans within the building. Although nervous about moving my studio practice to a very public storefront, it turned out to be one of best and most prominent decisions I had made yet. I found a very kind and creative community of folks that were at the center of the art and small business scene in Raleigh.

In 2023, my husband and I purchased a fixer-upper just outside of Raleigh, and I began the transition back to a home studio set-up. Although, I often find myself missing many aspects of having a public studio space, I often travel downtown for art shows, markets, craft fairs and teaching.

In addition to handmade pottery, I sell illustrative prints, jewlery, and screenprinted graphic tees. You can find my market and teaching schedule on my website or by following my newsletter!

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Being a business owner, I think you have to be willing to take some risks. This feeling of uncertainty, especially as a new businesss, can deeply humble a person. You never know what each month will bring. I try to look at each expereince, good or bad, as a way to learn something about my process. For example, applying for in-person markets or craft fairs often come with big risks. There are so many factors involved and you are dependent on the organizers, weather, time of year, and audience particpation.

Pricing:

• Custom Watercolor/Mixed Media Portraits: Starting at $40

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lauracarolinecasas.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casas.ceramics
• Other: lauracarolinecasas.substack.com