In good company
Chantal Paupin’s business name honours the women in her pottery class
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As a young adult, Chantal Paupin took pottery classes as a way to spend time with her mother. It soon, however, became much more than that. “Taking classes at Thrown Together Pottery and Art in Truro has brought me so much opportunity, learning and a sense of community,” said Paupin, noting that she has been taking lessons since 2012.
Since 2019, Paupin, who lives in Londonderry, N.S., has been operating a business called In Good Company Pottery, where she primarily focuses on hand-carved pottery.
She chose to name her business In Good Company Pottery because of the amazing group of women she spends her time with creating.
Paupin says she really didn’t realize her inner creativity until she became an adult.
“Throughout school, art class was focused on having the ability to paint or draw and I have neither of those skills,” she said. “Working with clay really opened my eyes to being creative and pushed me well outside of my comfort zone.”
TAKES CLASSES
Today, Paupin still takes pottery classes and continues to work on her own pottery from her basement studio. She credits Danielle Sawada of Thrown Together Pottery and Art for being an extremely supportive mentor, friend and the best trouble shooter.
Paupin makes many different pieces, but by far her most popular are her mugs. But when it comes time to decide what to make, sometimes the clay decides for you what it wants to become and other times your vision comes to life.
She tends to make a lot of themed pieces and replicate some of her designs. They’re never really the same, but her work has a very natural feel to it, from the designs, colours and textures of the pieces.
With spring on the horizon, Paupin is hoping to create some functional garden pieces to help people entertain this summer or to simply enjoy while drinking coffee each morning.
Through her art, Paupin has had some amazing opportunities. For example, this past summer she took a risk and ventured outside her comfort zone and started showcasing some of her work at monthly farmers’ markets.
SGRAFFITO PIECE
There, she was able to sell one of her first sgraffito pieces. This is where the artist uses a technique putting a layer of glaze on a piece, letting it dry, then using a pottery carving tool to scratch at it to show the base layer of colour. It ended up being one of her favourite pieces and she sold it to a woman from Vancouver.
“Had you asked me a year ago if I thought that could have happened, I wouldn’t have thought it possible,” said Paupin.
Overall, Paupin said her business is actually more of a hobby. For her, it’s a stress relief and something she tries to keep sacred for herself. So, when she is not puttering in her studio, she can be found volunteering with her local fire brigade or working as a social worker.
Anyone interesting in viewing or purchasing art from In Good Company Pottery can find her on Facebook and Instagram under the same name or at the New Glasgow Farmers’ Market.