Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison LeBaron.
Hi Allison, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been interested in playing with mud ever since I was a child. I first saw somebody throw a pot on the Potter’s wheel when I was young and was immediately fascinated by it. I got my first opportunity to sit at the wheel, in my second semester of college and continued throughout my college studies. I earned a bachelors of art in ceramics from Pennsylvania State University and a masters of education in ART from University of Florida in Gainesville. I circuited the art festival Arena in Pottery and then in Painting for 20 years I also made leather cover journals and sold them internationally on the Internet .
I am married and raised two children while practicing art. Red Door studio was my first Public art studio located in downtown Gainesville, where I taught Painting for many years. I dreamed about and then challenged myself to start a community ceramic studio when my children were grown, and my mother had passed. I opened Art Alley Studio in 2013 as a sol proprietorship. I teach ceramics and painting. My mission at the art studio is to provide a place where people can meet together, make friends and share the excitement of clay, beauty, art and creation. We have 2 1/2 hour classes, weekdays, weeknights and weekends Additional open studio times are provided for students from different classes to meet each other and practice their skills. The studio boasts work tables, pottery wheels, electric kilns, lighting, air conditioning, hot water, and a lot of natural light. Proficient potters can become members and have full access to the studio to create their art at their leisure.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The moment I graduated from college, I saw the challenges and isolation inherent in entrepreneurship in art. I was not a trained business person, and consequently struggled with art sales. My husband provided for our family while I developed my artistic skills and raised my two children. Saving enough money and being willing to learn how to run a business brought me to my secret dream of recreating my college experience in art. In college, new friends were made while spending many hours together, making art and enjoying each other’s company. To recreate this atmosphere, I became willing to take on this challenge and take the necessary steps to make it a reality.. I have created a space where people become artists . I now have 20 members and small class sizes with students enjoying plenty of instruction and practice time. I am very grateful that I was able to bring this enterprise into reality and create a place where people feel a sense of belonging.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a member of a group of traditional functional potters, making work that people enjoy. As a functional Potter I use clays and that are safe for people to use in their homes. I enjoy decorating my bowls and plates with figurative drawings and paintings. I usually use white clay, add lots of color, creating whimsical animals.
Using oils, I also enjoy the tradition of landscape painting, representing beautiful, natural Florida, often painting beaches or our beautiful natural springs and our lush prairies and Savannah.
Any big plans?
I plan on continuing to teach and make art at my studio and hope when I retire to pass it on to the next potter, who would enjoy taking over the teaching and running of the art studio. The community enjoys creating there and I want it continue in my town for many years to come.
Pricing:
- My classes are $40 apiece paid for by the session either 2 week 4week or 8 weeks
- My Pottery sells for between $25 and $300
- My oil Paintings sell from $50-$6000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://artalleystudio.com
- Instagram: Art.alley.studio
- Facebook: Art Alley – a community and painting studio
