Can you introduce yourself?
Cassandre : I'm Cassandre Bouilly, a 26-year-old ceramist based in Nantes. I've been a ceramist for two and a half years now.
How did you choose to become a ceramist?
Cassandre : I fell into ceramics purely by chance! At the end of my BTS textile design and wanting to resume my studies, I discovered the DMA Ceramics training course in Sèvres, near Paris. Being a bit of a jack-of-all-trades and loving to discover new things, I embarked on a new training course to discover the practice of clay. And it was love at first sight! I started my own business straight after finishing my training.
©Cassandre Bouilly
Where do you find inspiration?
Cassandre : I try to go to the museum as often as possible or to discover new exhibitions.
I also find inspiration in nature and travel. I love observing the colors that surround us, especially when I find myself by the sea, and transcribing them into my ceramics. I'm a big fan of blue!
Seashells are also a source of inspiration. I have a great passion for collecting seashells on the sand, and I've been doing this since I was little. Once back in the studio, I select the shells I've collected on the beach and then mold them to make ceramic shells.
A typical day?
Cassandre : In ceramics, there's no real typical day. The ceramicist's job requires patience and time, so I often adapt to the rhythm of the clay. When I'm in a busy production period, I often try to take an hour in the morning to answer emails and process orders for my e-shop . And then I go get my hands dirty!
My pieces are made using both modeling and casting techniques. So throughout the day, I try to alternate between the two techniques for variety.
And in the evening, if the pieces I modeled during the day are finished, then I will put them on the shelves and they will continue to dry quietly for a few days before going into the kiln. If the pieces are not finished, then I wrap them in plastic to keep the humidity and the next day I come back to work on them to finish them.
©Cassandre Bouilly
Any advice for those who would like to start their own business?
Cassandre : I don't really have any advice to give. I would say to listen to yourself and, above all, to listen to your instincts! The most important thing is to get started in a field that you're passionate about and that makes you want to get up every morning, even during the most difficult times.
Where are you going to recharge your batteries?
Cassandre : I go to the seaside to recharge my batteries on weekends as soon as the sun is out. For me, it's essential to see the sea whenever I can. The sound of the waves has a relaxing effect on me, and I forget all my little worries for a moment.
What is your favorite Alaena product?
Cassandre : I had the chance to try some of Alaena's products when we met at the Playground event in Paris, and I loved the Fruit Acid Peel . I like its texture, its smell, and especially the feel it leaves on the skin.
For Alaena, Cassandre fashioned a series of shell soap dishes in chamotte white stoneware.
What are your upcoming projects?
Cassandre : One of my biggest projects right now is that I'd like to find a new studio. My studio is currently in one of the rooms of my apartment, and it's starting to be difficult for me to work where I live, even though it has some advantages. And then, I'm starting to run out of space in my studio.
What is your mantra?
Cassandre : One of the mantras that motivates me every day: " Don't wait for opportunities. Create them yourself ." Sometimes you have to make luck happen to get what you want. It allows me to set goals for myself and give myself the means to achieve them, both in my personal and professional life.
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Thanks to Cassandre for answering our questions.
Find his ceramics on the internet:
Cassandre Bouilly - @cassandrebouillyceramics