Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Reyes.
Nicole, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Over the last few years, I worked many different jobs that gave me the opportunity to explore my true passions in life. One was hanging out with teenagers and helping them figure out what their future could look like. I would take them on college tours throughout California and also had the opportunity to travel with them to Washington D.C. many times to show them what potential legacy they can leave behind.
The first couple of weeks in this role, I just took everything in. Traveling to D.C., we visited dozens of museums and monuments and having never been to D.C. prior to this, I felt like I was the one experiencing the magic of the city. After doing this same trip multiple times each month with different groups of students, I started thinking to myself, “What are your passions in life and what legacy do you want to leave?”
When I was not traveling with this job, I spent my spare time working on my ceramics. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Studio Art at my state college and focused my concentration on pottery. For two long years, I took on the challenge of focusing on what I wanted to create and how I would continue to inspire kids. At the end of one summer session, I decided that I would do the unimaginable and make an environment that I could call my own and open up a studio.
Growing up in North East Los Angeles I have seen the shift and rise for the appreciation of the creative community. Understanding this, I was inspired to see that potentially obtaining a career in the arts is more achievable than I initially thought. I took everything I had and decided to go all in. If I was going to do it, I wanted to do it right.
After months of work and figuring out a bunch of problems that lead into other problems, countless trips to the hardware store, bribing people for their special services in exchange for ceramic goods, and a bunch of hardworking weeks – the studio was complete!
Having created this community studio for people to come in and create simple things that bring such small amounts of joy to the world it amazing. Four years ago when I graduated college if someone would have told me that I would be where I am now I probably would have simply laughed at them and say “Wouldn’t that be the dream?” But it CAN be. After spending years of motivating others it’s nice to finally turn all of my affirmations toward myself. You can be your biggest believer once you open your eyes and see the light.
Has it been a smooth road?
The biggest struggle was really believing in myself and telling myself that you do deserve to have this opportunity of having a career in a creative field and that they are just not stories you hear about.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Cobalt & Clay offers beginning wheel throwing and hand-building classes, monthly memberships, workshops, private events, and even has a pottery shop to purchase work our members and students make.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel like any city is a good city for pottery!
Contact Info:
- Address: 2017 Riverside Drive Los Angeles, CA 90039
- Website: http://www.cobaltandclay.com
- Phone: 323-522-6717
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @cobaltandclay
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