The Mud Peddlers: Ceramic Art Behind the Scenes

It’s finally here.

Head to Clayscapes and get yourself Donte's new glaze.

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About Your Hosts

Lindsey M Dillon is an award-winning professional ceramic artist who makes mugs and creature sculptures inspired by history, folklore, and geek culture. They have been working in clay since 2007, and doing so professionally since 2014. Their supernatural powers haven't manifested yet, but it's ok, they’ll wait.

Donte of Earth Nation Ceramics is a professional ceramic artist and Youtuber with over 100k artists in his community, all helping each other grow through their ceramic art journey one step at a time. He also has a massive addiction to boba milk tea and anime.

Find Lindsey

Website and shop – lindseymdillon.com

Patreon – patreon.com/lindseymdillon

Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook – @lindseymdillon 

Find Donte

Website and shop – earthnationceramics.com

Patreon – patreon.com/Earthnationceramics

Youtube – Earth Nation Ceramics

Instagram – @earth_nation_ceramics

TikTok and Facebook – @earthnationceramics

Join the Discord – https://discord.gg/Xtmwk7y

Lindsey and Donte answer a question from listener @salnevarez_art about how to know what materials are going to become unavailable, and how to go about replacing an ingredient when it does. There’s talk of UMFs, glaze calculators, and way, way too many baking metaphors.

Do you have a burning question for The Mud Peddlers? Send it to Lindsey at [email protected]. 

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About Your Hosts

Lindsey M Dillon is an award-winning professional ceramic artist who makes mugs and creature sculptures inspired by history, folklore, and geek culture. They have been working in clay since 2007, and doing so professionally since 2014. Their supernatural powers haven't manifested yet, but it's ok, they’ll wait.

Donte of Earth Nation Ceramics is a professional ceramic artist and Youtuber with over 100k artists in his community, all helping each other grow through their ceramic art journey one step at a time. He also has a massive addiction to boba milk tea and anime.

Find Lindsey

Website and shop – lindseymdillon.com

Patreon – patreon.com/lindseymdillon

Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook – @lindseymdillon 

Find Donte

Website and shop – earthnationceramics.com

Patreon – patreon.com/Earthnationceramics

Youtube – Earth Nation Ceramics

Instagram – @earth_nation_ceramics

TikTok and Facebook – @earthnationceramics

Join the Discord – https://discord.gg/Xtmwk7y

Lindsey and Donte chat with Sue McLeod, a giant in the online ceramics education world. There’s talk of transitioning to full time ceramic work, creating a marketing approach that meets your needs, and how non science majors can experience an inviting approach to glaze chemistry. Donte also finally gets to ask Sue his burning questions about iron oxide…

What has your exposure been to glaze chemistry? Are you good to go with what you have, or are you still looking to scratch that itch?

Follow Sue and her work:

• Website and Blog: suemcleodceramics.com
• Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook: @suemcleodceramics 
• Understanding Glazes with Sue Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/UnderstandingGlazes/

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About Your Hosts

Lindsey M Dillon is an award-winning professional ceramic artist who makes mugs and creature sculptures inspired by history, folklore, and geek culture. They have been working in clay since 2007, and doing so professionally since 2014. Their supernatural powers haven't manifested yet, but it's ok, they’ll wait.

Donte of Earth Nation Ceramics is a professional ceramic artist and Youtuber with over 100k artists in his community, all helping each other grow through their ceramic art journey one step at a time. He also has a massive addiction to boba milk tea and anime.

Find Lindsey

Website and shop – lindseymdillon.com

Patreon – patreon.com/lindseymdillon

Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook – @lindseymdillon 

Find Donte

Website and shop – earthnationceramics.com

Patreon – patreon.com/Earthnationceramics

Youtube – Earth Nation Ceramics

Instagram – @earth_nation_ceramics

TikTok and Facebook – @earthnationceramics

Join the Discord – https://discord.gg/Xtmwk7y

Lindsey and Donte chat with Ben Carter – host of Tales of a Red Clay Rambler, founder of The Brickyard Network, and general artist and podcaster extraordinaire!

There’s talk of how Ben got into clay and podcasting, how he’s made his career work for his mental and financial health, and why it’s important to “look at the footnotes”. 

Plus, some of the most inspiring advice you could ask for.

Mentions:

Winnie Owens-Hart: Her book is forthcoming, but not yet available for purchase

Patty Warashina

Find Ben and his work:

Visit his website carterpottery.com

Follow @carterpottery (and @historyofceramics)

Read his books (and support your local bookstore!)

Listen to Tales of a Red Clay Rambler and the other shows from The Brickyard Network

Lindsey and Donte return after a break for the first episode of 2025! They chat about the highlights and lessons learned from 2024, as well as what 2025 has in store. There’s talk of changing work/life balances, glaze development, new classes, new glazes, the upcoming NCECA clay convention, and how to bring a little bit of Star Wars energy into your life.

What’s one success you can celebrate from 2024, big or small? Let us know in the comments (if you're listening via Youtube) or send us a message on the socials!

***Resources for resistance and survival in the Trump administration***

FOLLOW Blair Imani (@blairimani) for social justice education delivered with detail, receipts, humor, and pizzazz.

SHARE and/or ACCESS queer youth resources from The Trevor Project.

PRINT Red Cards/Tarjetas Rojas through the Immigrant Legal Resource Center or other organizations helping immigrants assert their civil rights

DONATE $5 to the National Network of Abortion Funds

READ this guide from The Guardian contributor Robert Reich

Mentions:

ClayScapes – clayscapespottery.com (Use Donte’s discount code: earth10 at checkout)

Dirty Panda Ceramics (@dirtypanda_ceramics)

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About Your Hosts

Lindsey M Dillon is an award-winning professional ceramic artist who makes mugs and creature sculptures inspired by history, folklore, and geek culture. They have been working in clay since 2007, and doing so professionally since 2014. Their supernatural powers haven't manifested yet, but it's ok, they’ll wait.

Donte of Earth Nation Ceramics is a professional ceramic artist and Youtuber with over 100k artists in his community, all helping each other grow through their ceramic art journey one step at a time. He also has a massive addiction to boba milk tea and anime.

Find Lindsey

Website and shop – lindseymdillon.com

Patreon – patreon.com/lindseymdillon

Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook – @lindseymdillon 

Find Donte

Website and shop – earthnationceramics.com

Patreon – patreon.com/Earthnationceramics

Youtube – Earth Nation Ceramics

Instagram – @earth_nation_ceramics

TikTok and Facebook – @earthnationceramics

Join the Discord – https://discord.gg/Xtmwk7y

Lindsey and Donte chat about their experiences working with local businesses as another way to get their work out there. From pros and cons to best practices, these mud peddlers hope their stories will help you decide whether and how to tap into this part of your local creative economy.

Have you ever sold your work through a local business? What’s some advice you might share with someone thinking about doing the same?

Let us know in the comments (for those of you listening via Youtube) or send us a message on the socials!

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About Your Hosts

Lindsey M Dillon is an award-winning professional ceramic artist who makes mugs and creature sculptures inspired by history, folklore, and geek culture. They have been working in clay since 2007, and doing so professionally since 2014. Their supernatural powers haven't manifested yet, but it's ok, they’ll wait.

Donte of Earth Nation Ceramics is a professional ceramic artist and Youtuber with over 100k artists in his community, all helping each other grow through their ceramic art journey one step at a time. He also has a massive addiction to boba milk tea and anime.

Find Lindsey

Website and shop – lindseymdillon.com

Patreon – patreon.com/lindseymdillon

Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook – @lindseymdillon 

Find Donte

Website and shop – earthnationceramics.com

Patreon – patreon.com/Earthnationceramics

Youtube – Earth Nation Ceramics

Instagram – @earth_nation_ceramics

TikTok and Facebook – @earthnationceramics

Join the Discord – https://discord.gg/Xtmwk7y

Lindsey and Donte put together a list to help out with holiday gifts for clay people– whether you have a clay person in your life, or you are the clay person in your life. From classic quality-of-life picks to some potentially surprising suggestions, these mud peddlers hope you can find some inspiration in this holiday medley.

What’s one of the most helpful gifts you’ve ever received, ceramics-related or otherwise?

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About Your Hosts

Lindsey M Dillon is an award-winning professional ceramic artist who makes mugs and creature sculptures inspired by history, folklore, and geek culture. They have been working in clay since 2007, and doing so professionally since 2014. Their supernatural powers haven't manifested yet, but it's ok, they’ll wait.

Donte of Earth Nation Ceramics is a professional ceramic artist and Youtuber with over 100k artists in his community, all helping each other grow through their ceramic art journey one step at a time. He also has a massive addiction to boba milk tea and anime.

Find Lindsey

Website and shop – lindseymdillon.com

Patreon – patreon.com/lindseymdillon

Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook – @lindseymdillon 

Find Donte

Website and shop – earthnationceramics.com

Patreon – patreon.com/Earthnationceramics

Youtube – Earth Nation Ceramics

Instagram – @earth_nation_ceramics

TikTok and Facebook – @earthnationceramics

Join the Discord – https://discord.gg/Xtmwk7y

**Election Day is Nov. 5th! Go to Vote.gov to find your local polling place and do a democracy!**

Lindsey and Donte discuss the many ways you can use sculpture to expand the way you decorate your functional ware (whether wheel-thrown or hand-built). There’s talk of clay types, sculptural techniques, and how you might avoid some common pitfalls – as well as some trickier territory like pursuing representative vs. abstract work and pushing yourself out of a creative rut.

Do you incorporate sculptural elements into your functional work, or do you prefer more 2D surface decoration?

Referenced Artists:

Danny Meisinger ( @spinningearthpottery, spinningearthpottery.net)

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About Your Hosts

Lindsey M Dillon is an award-winning professional ceramic artist who makes mugs and creature sculptures inspired by history, folklore, and geek culture. They have been working in clay since 2007, and doing so professionally since 2014. Their supernatural powers haven't manifested yet, but it's ok, they’ll wait.

Donte of Earth Nation Ceramics is a professional ceramic artist and Youtuber with over 90k artists in his community, all helping each other grow through their ceramic art journey one step at a time. He also has a massive addiction to boba milk tea and anime.

Find Lindsey

Website and shop – lindseymdillon.com

Patreon – patreon.com/lindseymdillon

Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook – @lindseymdillon 

Find Donte

Website and shop – earthnationceramics.com

Patreon – patreon.com/Earthnationceramics

Youtube – Earth Nation Ceramics

Instagram – @earth_nation_ceramics

TikTok and Facebook – @earthnationceramics

Join the Discord – https://discord.gg/Xtmwk7y

**Do you have your voting plan? ^_^ Grab a buddy and participate in democracy together (then go get some ice cream or cake or some cheese, cuz you deserve it ;) ) Check your voter registration and find your polling place at Vote.gov**

Lindsey and Donte introduce you to bentonite, a common ingredient in glaze-making. 

From basic traits to baking analogies, these mud peddlers do their best to explain what bentonite is and what it does to your clay and glazes.

What ingredient do you want to meet next? Tell us in the comments or tag us on the socials!

**Do you have a voting plan? Grab a buddy and participate in democracy together (then go get some ice cream or cake or cheese, cuz you deserve it ;) )**

Sources and further reading:

Digital Fire – Bentonite (https://digitalfire.com/material/bentonite)

Sue MacLeod on the Ceramic Arts Network (https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/ceramic-recipes/recipe/bentonite#)

Rose and Matt Katz’s Ceramic Materials Workshop (https://ceramicmaterialsworkshop.com/)

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About Your Hosts

Lindsey M Dillon is an award-winning professional ceramic artist who makes mugs and creature sculptures inspired by history, folklore, and geek culture. They have been working in clay since 2007, and doing so professionally since 2014. Their supernatural powers haven't manifested yet, but it's ok, they’ll wait.

Donte of Earth Nation Ceramics is a professional ceramic artist and Youtuber with over 90k artists in his community, all helping each other grow through their ceramic art journey one step at a time. He also has a massive addiction to boba milk tea and anime.

Find Lindsey

Website and shop – lindseymdillon.com

Patreon – patreon.com/lindseymdillon

Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook – @lindseymdillon 

Find Donte

Website and shop – earthnationceramics.com

Patreon – patreon.com/Earthnationceramics

Youtube – Earth Nation Ceramics

Instagram – @earth_nation_ceramics

TikTok and Facebook – @earthnationceramics

Join the Discord – https://discord.gg/Xtmwk7y

Lindsey and Donte chat about SacAnime Summer: the good, the bad, and the gross – gross income, that is…

There’s talk of table positions, the price of goblets, and the never-ending challenge of figuring out what fandom to focus on.

How do you evaluate your experience selling at an event? Do you sit down and write things out, have a discussion with friends…? Tell us in the comments or tag us on the socials!

P.S. If you enjoyed this episode and want more details about Lindsey's experience, you can get their 5-part written summary as a $3 House of Earth member on their Patreon (patreon.com/lindseymdillon)

Shoutouts to:

Emerald Barkley (emeraldbarkley.com or @emeraldbarkley)

Tea cozy (teacozy.biz or @teacozy_arthouse)

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About Your Hosts

Lindsey M Dillon is an award-winning professional ceramic artist who makes mugs and creature sculptures inspired by history, folklore, and geek culture. They have been working in clay since 2007, and doing so professionally since 2014. Their supernatural powers haven't manifested yet, but it's ok, they’ll wait.

Donte of Earth Nation Ceramics is a professional ceramic artist and Youtuber with over 90k artists in his community, all helping each other grow through their ceramic art journey one step at a time. He also has a massive addiction to boba milk tea and anime.

Find Lindsey

Website and shop – lindseymdillon.com

Patreon – patreon.com/lindseymdillon

Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook – @lindseymdillon 

Find Donte

Website and shop – earthnationceramics.com

Patreon – patreon.com/Earthnationceramics

Youtube – Earth Nation Ceramics

Instagram – @earth_nation_ceramics

TikTok and Facebook – @earthnationceramics

Join the Discord – https://discord.gg/Xtmwk7y