Today we’d like to introduce you to Bridget Hauser.
Hi Bridget, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I began my journey into the arts, and ceramics when a young girl. I traded baby sitting for art lessons with the artists next door Bill Farrell and his wife Pat. I studied Painting, sculpture and ceramic art in high school and then in college at Indiana University. Through classes, internships, apprenticeships, and employment with other artists I built the confidence to start my own business with my husband at my side. We built the Sunset Canyon Pottery in Dripping Springs and ran a wholesale pottery business & retail gallery for a solid 25 years. I retired in 2016 and sold this business to my production manager, John Vela. He still runs a successful version of Sunset Canyon Pottery now in Austin. Currently I operate as a solo artist with a mostly sculpural focus. Treehaus Studios is the name of my studio and AirBNB. It is located next to the Eye of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos, operated by Billy Ray and Beverly Mangham, where I have participated as a volunteer, exhibitor, and workshop artist,
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggle along the way was creating work/life balance. My husband and I raised 2 daughters during this time and sent them on to college. The time, and financial presures were always a challenge. The second biggest was the push/pull between running a business and wanting to sit in a corner and create.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My creative work has mostly been all about clay. Although I’ve dabbled in painting, drawing and silversmithing, none of that was as compelling as clay. I became a Potter . After a couple of internships/employment opportunities where I learned the in’s and outs of the craft and the business, I actually became a partner in Clarksville Pottery in Austin. Then evolved that into my own business Sunset Canyon Pottery in Dripping Springs.
All of that was possible with the support of my husband and family. I was known as an accomplished functional potter. When I retired from all of that I began to explore sculpture and was described as a realist in my approach to the natural world that became my muse.
I am most proud of the Sunset Canyon Pottery. We began by designing and building a strawbale and stucco building that felt like the biggest pot I ever made! It was a 4,000 sq. ft facility that housed a gallery, representing both local and nationaly known artists, and a studio where we produced a functional line of pottery that we wholesaled nationaly. The line still exists and is now owned and produced by John Vela. Our work was sought out because every aspect the work was created and produced by hand.
What makes you happy?
My family and community have always come first. However I do enjoy getting into the Zone with clay in my studio, working and listening to music.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bridgethauserpottery.com/
- Instagram: hauserbridget
- Facebook: Bridget Hauser
