Rain City Clay is lucky to be staffed by a group of dedicated ceramicists who work diligently to keep the studio running, who teach with passion and exuberance, and engage and build community through clay. In addition to all that they do at RCC, they also have their own clay practices, either in the RCC basement studios or off-site, where they make their own work and grow their skills. Each month we will be featuring one of our fantastic staff members and their talents.

This month we are highlighting Sam O’Brien (he/they)! Sam works at RCC and RCS as a studio technician. He helps manage reclaim, mix glazes, and many other behind-the-scenes tasks that keep the studios functioning. We’re so glad to have Sam on the team! Sam currently makes work at
Rat City Studios!

Sams’s Bio:

Sam O’Brien is a recent BFA graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in craft and material studies with a focus in ceramics. Sam makes pottery that depicts queer life through illustration.

You recently made a big move! What brought you to Seattle?

I was very fortunate to have gotten a grant from Virginia Commonwealth University’s craft program, in my last semester, to fund the expenses for an apprenticeship with Deb Schwartzkopf! I learned about Deb’s work through my professor, which then brought me to a lot of internet stalking of the Rain City Clay website. I really loved the work in Deb’s portfolio and the culture she has fostered at both RCC and RCS. I reached out through email about being an apprentice, and made the move to Seattle several months ago. The RCC team has been so tremendously kind and supportive. I am super grateful for the opportunity to learn and work with y’all!

What are your inspirations / influences?

I’m really inspired by my friends, queer memoirs, and baroque paintings!

How long have you been working with clay?

While I was in high school I taught polymer clay classes at Michaels, which got me into the hobby of working with clay. That was about eight years ago.

It wasn’t until my sophomore year of college when I took an “intro-to-clay” class that I learned about ceramics. I became head-over-heels in love with pottery and still am, three years later.

Is there something you’ve wanted to try making that you’ve never made before or haven’t made in a long time?

One of these days, I want to make a successful six-foot vase!

What is your favorite part of the clay process?

I’m an absolute sucker for a good, crunchy, wet sanding… such a satisfying process. It feels like a reward to myself for having something survive past the greenware stage. I even wet sand my test tiles.

When do you feel most inspired?

I feel most inspired after connecting with my loved ones, mentors, etc. I love listening to artist talks, looking through someone’s portfolio, having conversations about art with my coworkers. These little moments of shared creativity mean a lot to me, and really motivate me to get to work. I think I’m an extrovert in the sense that I get my energy through others, and I’m so lucky to have such an amazing community to continue to learn from.

How do you push through creative blocks?

I think all kinds of art can become overwhelming when you’re stuck in your own head, this is where creative blocks really hit me! I usually combat this by “sketch vomiting”. Which is just abandoning the perfectionist in me and putting everything I can think of down in my sketchbook.

My whole personal philosophy with making work is that if you keep throwing stuff at the wall, something should stick… eventually.

What advice would you give to Sam 5 years ago?

I would tell them to focus on the present and just keep making work!

I used to be super anxious and wrapped up about the future and becoming a well-adjusted adult artist. I was always focused on planning for post-grad life, how to build up my credit score, how soon I could pay off my student loans, the health of my friends and family, blah blah blah… I’m a lot of fun at parties.

I know now that those concerns about the future never go away, and I regret being so focused on stressing over what I couldn’t control, instead of appreciating and focusing on the resources I had within my art community at that moment. Being able to study and make art is such a privilege, I try my best to not take that for granted anymore.

If your work was a musical genre, what would it be?

Something a little painful, over-dramatic, and pretty that you’d also be kind of scared to show your mother… maybe synth-pop or electronica.

Do you like to listen to music or podcasts in the studio? If so, do you have a playlist or favorite musician?

I always listen to music in the studio, it really helps me get out of my head and focus. I have to be a super stereotypical queer (as always) and admit that ABBA is forever in my rotation :) I also really like Father John Misty and Big Thief.

What's next for Sam? Shows? Etc?

I have absolutely no idea! There isn’t a single grant application portal I haven’t dug my whole body into. If you need to find me, I will be in the pit of my laptop writing cold emails to everyone.

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April 2024 Staff Highlight: Sam O’Brien

Get to know Sam!