Molly Hatch – Artist Interview
Interview with Artist Molly Hatch
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF…
- Hometown: Woodstock, Vermont
- Current Town: Florence, Massachusetts
- Fave Ice Cream Flavor: Coconut
- Fave Breakfast Food: Waffles with REAL maple syrup
- Fave Holiday: Christmas
- Fave Color: Cobalt Blue
- Fave Movie: Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette
- Fave Decade: 1770s
Tell you how you began your business: I started out as a studio potter. When I finished graduate school in 2008, I started my own pottery and sold my pottery through galleries and Etsy as well. About a two years after I started my pottery, in 2010 I was approached by Anthropologie to design a line of tableware. This opportunity led to many more product collaborations as well as opportunities to grow my brand beyond tableware with other companies, leading to lots of fun collaborations like this one, with Land of Nod!
What are the most rewarding and the most difficult parts of running your own business? I find that balancing my work and personal life one of the most challenging aspects of being a self employed artist. My work hours are long—and often its hard to explain to friends that what I want to do in the evening with a glass of wine is the same work I was did all day! Travel is probably the most taxing on my family, but its also one of the more rewarding aspects of my work—it is amazing having a supportive husband and daughter and I get really excited when they get to come along for travel too. I find that it is incredibly rewarding when I hear back from people using the products I design—that my work fulfills a need and make people happy. I am so grateful that my days are filled with beautiful things and positive, inspiring messages. I feel truly lucky to get to make the work I do for a living.
How would you describe your style? Modern yet traditional. Instant heirloom.
If you could travel anywhere, where would it be? Hmmm, Paris is ALWAYS a good idea. Always.
If you could possess a superpower, what would it be? To spread magic—and peace….
Tell us about the products you created for The Land of Nod. How did the partnership come about? What was the process like? My collection for Land of Nod was the perfect opportunity for me to envision a makeover for my daughter’s bedroom! I love when my work allows me to re-design my home in the process. I particularly love that I got to include lots of ceramics in this collection given my start as a potter. So, I am particularly excited about the piggy banks and lamps in the collection. I sketched the whole collection in pencil first, then went to work making the ceramic prototypes which were 1:1 scale. The flat art for the bedding and pillows was all done with watercolor—creating a softer look. Watercolor is typically how I create surface patterns and designs.
Which of your products you created for The Land of Nod is your favorite so far? I LOVE the deer lamp, the little bluebird pull is adorable and the gold detail is fabulous! My daughter LOVES the snail pillow!
