Meet Rebecca Pincus | Ceramics Studio Owner & Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca Pincus and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, what do you attribute your success to?
There are two factors I know have been critical to the studio’s success. The first was that there was a need in the community for what I offer: an adults only studio where classes are available daytime, evening and weekends. The second factor is a strong online presence. Our website and Instagram account have been invaluable. The website was professionally designed and I’ve gotten great feedback on it. The website has been the greatest source of new business. I also strive to keep our Instagram page professional, with posts that focus on informational content. I really enjoy posting photos of student work, as well. They work hard on their ceramics, and it’s nice for them to get recognition.

What should our readers know about your business?
When I bought Tucson Clay Art Center it was a small operation with about six students. The prior owner, an amazing artist and teacher named Betsy Tanzer, was running it for her own fulfillment in her later years. I, on the other hand, needed to make this studio financially profitable. I chafed at my prior careers in banking and law administration, because they felt so disconnected from my values. It’s very gratifying now to realize that without those experiences I probably wouldn’t have had the skills I needed to operate a successful business. It was an important lesson in trust. For me, trust has been a key part of becoming and succeeding as an entrepreneur, trusting both my path and myself. So much came together so easily (if I don’t count the long hours and hard work!) that I have begun to believe that magic really does happen when you put yourself on the right path and align with your values. I’ve always been a teacher at heart, and would not have been satisfied with my life if I hadn’t found a way to share my passion with others. I used my experiences in various studios over the years to guide me in creating the kind of studio I wanted to offer to the community. I was and continue to be determined to create a special experience for all who walk in the door. First, I scaled back class size so that every student receives individualized attention. The smaller class size also allowed me to give each student and member their own personal drying rack, uncommon in a community studio where one’s work might be moved, or even broken while sitting on a shared shelf. I committed to providing a clean and organized space. I always want to remember that clientele are paying money to come work in the studio, and I owe it to them to provide the best environment possible. I hired instructors who understand that teaching ceramics in a community studio is a combination of teaching good ceramic skills while at the same time encouraging creative exploration and fun. My clientele are adults with busy, sometimes demanding lives. I often hear from them that their time in the studio is their therapy, the one thing they do for themselves. So making sure they have fun and feel encouraged while they learn is important. Finally, I made the paramount decision that has been my guiding light in managing the studio. I decided that every person who comes into the studio will be actively welcomed and seen and accepted for who they are. This approach has fostered an amazing community of support, safety and acceptance, qualities that are crucial for feeling the freedom to create. I believe this is critical to the studio’s success and, equally important, it creates an environment that I love and thrive in myself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would start with an early morning hike in Sabino Canyon. Hopefully we would see some critters and I would be sure to point out the Sonoran Desert flora. We would then head over to the Blue Willow for brunch, preferably on the peaceful patio. They always have a delicious and healthy menu. We would of course have to spend some time browsing their quirky gift shop, a place I go to find unique gifts I can’t find anywhere else in town. I would insist on a visit to the Arizona State Museum’s Pottery Project, a showcase of indigenous pottery making. The museum has a rotating display of about 500 works pulled from a collection of 24,000 pieces! Now it’s time to head for a local restaurant, Beyond Bread, for a nice cold iced coffee. I always say this is one of the few places where the baked goodies taste as good as they look. And hey, we earned our treat by hiking this morning, right?! After that we will take in a comedy or drama at the Live Theater Workshop. It offers an intimate experience at an affordable price. Then on for a late dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Kingfisher Bar & Grill. We may live in the desert, but Kingfisher flies in the freshest oysters and fish in town. Also, this is the place I discovered the blue cheese stuffed olive martini, so who can argue with that! The remaining days would be spent hiking in the Sweetwater Trail, Pima Canyon Trail and Catalina State Park trails, including to Romero Pools. Since I suggested lodging at Ventana Canyon Resort, we would fall into deep sleep after a dip in the hot tub next to a rock cliff. The remainder of the week we would continue to visit museums and galleries, including the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum, the Etherton Gallery, the Time Machine Museum of Miniatures (quite fascinating) and of course no visit to Tucson is complete without a visit to the Sonoran Desert Museum. My guest will be begging for some authentic Mexican food, and I will oblige by choosing Del Cielo Tamales, El Berraco and of course the original El Charro on Court Ave. One of our evenings will have to include a drive up to Gate’s Pass to watch the sunset. I’ll be surprised if my visitor doesn’t want to move to Tucson after this visit. That’s exactly what happened to me 31 years ago!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would never have succeeded without my fabulous instructors: Mimi Daniel, Raymond Loffredo, Matthew Valiquette, Cynthia Jones, Lori Coan and Saraa Sequoia. Each of them showed up in the studio at a critical time, bringing with them their unique skills and style. Each has created a following of students with whom they have a great rapport. And like most ceramists, we all continue learning from one another, building on our own skills. I am eternally grateful to each of them. I could never leave out the Studio Tech, Christopher Parris.. He’s the one who keeps the studio working smoothly behind the scenes. Running a ceramics studio is not a one-man job. It’s physically demanding. It can be emotionally and mentally challenging. Chris is my right-hand man and I am grateful for him. I have been so fortunate that the right people came along at the right time. It all happened so organically, It’s been rather magical!

Website: www.tucsonclayartcenter.com

Instagram: tucsonclayart

Facebook: Tucson Clay Art Center

Other: email at: tucsoncac@gmail.com

Image Credits
All images are owned by Rebecca Pincus