Article 7: AMT Ceramics' Artist feature for JULY: Who is behind TLP? The Leaflet Pottery

AMT Ceramic Studio is already in its 2nd half of the year in providing Firing Services to our valued clients. Worth to mention is Stephanie Torres Galang or Steph who is among those who constantly and continuously creating beautiful pieces for her monthly Ceramic Sale. Steph is one of AM Trajeco's 1st few students in wheel-throwing class back in 2019 before he attended his apprenticeship in Aomori-Japan, Kanayamayaki.

Our Artist feature for the month of July was born and raised in Quezon City and graduated BA in Communication from Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Steph has captured the Metro's Market in the world of Ghibli-Themed Ceramics. Her pieces are always sold out in just 1 to 2 days of sale. Celebrating her Anniversary in ceramic world, let’s get to know more of our hard-working and determined artist behind TLP - The Leaflet Pottery.

 

Steph Torres Galang 

 

Q: What is the story behind The Leaflet Pottery?

It feels surreal to be sharing this today because none of these were really planned in the beginning. It was July 2019 when I decided to quit from a 9am to 5pm office job because I wanted to open a business. I was really into plants, specifically Korean succulents at that time plus, a nearby pottery studio just opened and is accepting students for a beginner wheel class. It felt like I have all the time in the world so of course, I enrolled! I was young and I really wanted to learn different things! I would create pots for my plants and when I made too many, I would sell them for 180 to 250 pesos each just so I can clear my shelf and use the money to rent a wheel and make more again. It wasn’t until I stopped collecting and selling succulents that I really focused on pottery around mid 2021.

 

 

Q: What are the inspirations for your ceramic style? How did you eventually find your style?

My pots look nothing like my mugs today! They were crazy colorful and each of them felt like the main characters haha. I can say the beginning is one of the most fun experience of my journey. My biggest inspiration was Jonthepotter on Youtube. He would always experiment and bring everything he could think of to life.

When the pandemic started, I knew I wouldn’t be able to go to the studio anymore so I learned handbuilding by myself. Non pottery related but I also adopted cats and kittens at this time which later on became the star of my mugs hehe!

 

 

Q: Tell us about your preparation and process for your monthly drops.

I don’t really have a list at first on what design I’m going to make. Since I’m not making custom orders right now I’m very free to do anything. I start by wedging clay and pinching a bunch of cups then once I’m in the flow, I just do whatever that comes to my mind, then I list them down on a google sheet when the mug is complete. On days when I feel uninspired, or when I want to try something but unsure what, I go to pinterest and check my boards. I mainly look at animal drawings and sketches, some color palettes, and ceramic pet figurines to get creative.

 

 

Q: What does a day in your studio look like?

An ideal production week (since I have sale week and packing/delivery days)

8:30am - Breakfast, get some sunlight

9am - Some laptop work, minor cleaning and setting up

10am - 11:30am - Make as much cups as I can (with breaks in between, because my wrist and fingers become easily tired)

11:30 am- Lunch, house chores, etc.

2pm - 6pm - Make pets, attach handles and footing (while listening to podcasts, and music. Embarrassing to share but lately Dear MOR and Barangay LS is so entertaining haha)

6:30pm - Dinner

8pm - Production work (pets, handles, footing)

9:30 - 10:30 - wedge clay, and make cups again. End.

I put a lot of short and long breaks in between so I can stretch and walk.

 

 

Q: What are some challenges you face as a full-time potter?

Having your studio at home is a big challenge. It’s hard at first because you need to learn new habits and set out rules for yourself. Discipline is key. Another thing is staying healthy. It doesn’t sound much but sitting for long hours can take a toll on your body. Regular exercise is really helping me a lot these days. I need to be stronger for my small body to lift heavy clay plus 80-ish mugs from the 1st floor to 3rd floor (yes the studio is on the 3rd floor). Lastly, customer service. This one isn’t a pottery related challenge but a small business owner challenge. Some people aren’t so nice. Some of them can get very demanding as if I’m running a Crate & Barrel retail store haha!

 

 

Q: What are your previous businesses/occupation before TPL? How do you think did these previous pursuits helped you with your current work?

As mentioned, I was into Korean succulents and during the pandemic I started a business and imported these plants from Busan, South Korea. There’s a lot of paperwork to deal with considering that I was only 24 years old at that time, I had no broker, and I was doing pottery on the side as well! I think it’s magical because everything I did in my previous jobs and the succulent business are helping me now in pottery both in technical and creative skills. Instead, let me share the top three values I learned from them: Respect; both for the people involved in my small business and for myself. Resilience; being able to adapt to all setbacks and disappointments that pottery throws at me. Lastly, Empathy; the ability to put yourself in your customer’s shoes - I’m not perfect, that’s why I try to understand them and cater to their requests as much as I can.

 

 

Q: What are some tips you could give to anyone thinking of starting their own pottery business?

Before anything, you need to be able to make something that YOU really like, not what social media likes. You can’t sell something you wouldn’t buy yourself right? And even though it doesn’t sell, it would still be okay because you get to keep it! And don’t compare your works to others. Comparison is the thief of joy, and pottery is supposed to be a joyous experience!

 

 

Q: How did you hear/learn about AMT?

I’m proud to say that Sir Mark is my first pottery teacher ever! When I enrolled for a pottery wheel class in Tahanan Pottery back in 2019, I believe we were one of the last class he handled before he went to Japan for his apprenticeship and during the pandemic, I remember he told me he had plans to open a home studio and I asked him whether he’ll open a firing service too which he did later on. I currently fire all my works at his studio and I’m very grateful to all the help and knowledge he imparts with me all the time.

 

 

That ends our interview.

 

With Steph’s busy schedule, we’re very glad to have interviewed her and share these chit-chat with you. If you're interested to have her works and see more of them, Steph has a monthly Ceramic Sale drop at her Instagram account. @theleafletpottery @theleaflet.ceramics . She’d love to meet you all.

 

Questions prepared by Diana Utlang

Answers Written by Stephanie Galang

Written by AMTrajeco , Edited by MS Trajeco