Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Tilley.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I came to pottery after a very different career. I served in the United States Navy for 26 years and retired in 2017 as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. During that time, I spent more than nine years overseas, including tours in Italy, Bahrain, Germany, and Iraq.
After returning from a deployment to Iraq in 2010, I discovered pottery. Working at the wheel gave me a quiet focus that I needed, and clay became an important part of my recovery. I didn’t know then how much it would change my life. What began as something I did for myself eventually became an artistic practice and the foundation for a community studio.
In 2018, I opened All Hands Pottery Studio in Norfolk, Virginia. I wanted to create a place where people could learn, make things, and feel welcome. Community is at the heart of what I do. Today, the studio serves hundreds of artists each month, and watching people build skills, confidence, and friendships through clay is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.
Alongside running the studio, I’ve continued to develop my own work as a ceramic artist. I primarily make wheel-thrown stoneware, with influences ranging from Neolithic Chinese Banshan pottery to mid-century German “Fat Lava” ceramics and historical animal-form pouring vessels. I’m drawn to bold color, expressive forms, and a sense of play. I especially love making functional objects that bring people together—pieces that can become part of a shared meal or a gathering.
My life now revolves around making, teaching, and building community through clay. I live in Norfolk with my husband, Mark, and our four rescue beagles, Annie, Oakley, Walter, and Scarlett.
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?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road\. Running a community pottery studio means balancing the desire to make art accessible with the practical costs of keeping the doors open\. Equipment, materials, staffing, and maintenance all need attention, and there is a lot of work behind the scenes that people never see\.
One of my biggest challenges has been making room for my own growth as an artist while running the studio\. There is always something that needs to be done, and it’s easy to put my own work last\. I’m still learning how to give myself the time and attention that I encourage my students to give themselves\.
I’ve also had to work through self\-doubt\. I came to ceramics later in life, and even after years of making and teaching, I can still question whether my work is ready for the next opportunity\. Applying to exhibitions, facing rejection, and seeking honest feedback are all part of that process\. Having mentors who challenge and encourage me has made a real difference\.
My military experience gave me persistence and the ability to solve problems, but I’m also learning to ask for help and share responsibility\. Building a community includes letting other people support you, too\.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about All Hands Pottery Studio?
All Hands Pottery Studio is a veteran-owned community pottery studio in Norfolk, Virginia. We offer introductory pottery experiences, six-week classes, private group events, and memberships for people who want an ongoing place to work. We provide the space, equipment, and firing services that allow people to pursue pottery without having to build a studio of their own.
What I think sets us apart is the community and the opportunity to keep growing. Someone can come in for a first experience with clay, continue into a six -week class, and eventually become a member working independently. There is room for people who simply want a creative outlet as well as those who want to develop a serious artistic practice. I want both to feel welcome.
As a working ceramic artist, I care about helping people develop skills and find their own ideas. Learning pottery involves plenty of trial and error, and having encouragement and people to learn alongside makes a difference. We take the craft seriously while leaving room for fun and experimentation.
I’m most proud of the community that has grown here since we opened in 2018. The studio depends on the contributions of our staff, instructors, and members, and it’s rewarding to see people make it their own. Watching someone gain confidence in their work or find friendships through the studio means everything to me.
What I’d like readers to know is that you don’t have to arrive with experience or think of yourself as an artist. You can start with curiosity. We’ll help you take it from there.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
For me, taking risks is about stepping out of my comfort zone. Opening a pottery studio without any business experience was a major risk. So was transitioning from the sailor me to the artist me—allowing myself to be a beginner again after spending 26 years building a military career.
I don’t think you have to feel completely confident before you take the next step. You prepare, ask questions, and accept that some things you’ll have to learn along the way. If I had waited until I felt ready for everything involved in running a studio, I might never have opened the doors.
If you always stay where things are comfortable, you miss opportunities to grow. That’s something I continue to remind myself as both a business owner and an artist..
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.allhandspottery.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/AllHandsPottery
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/AllHandsPotteryStudio
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/all-hands-pottery-studio-norfolk?osq=All+Hands+Pottery+Studio
