The bustling inner west suburb of Sydney’s Marrickville is home to Clay Cartel, a ceramic studio founded by Daniel Mulligan and Shannon Lewis. This duo has created a space where creativity, community, and craftsmanship converge. It’s a space that’s not just their home studio, but a place where members can learn, create, and even sell their work.
The journey to ceramics
Both Daniel and Shannon have unique backgrounds that have shaped their approach to ceramics. Daniel, a former fine-dining chef, discovered his passion for pottery ten years ago. “When COVID came, it was a perfect opportunity because all the restaurants shut down, for me to jump into pottery full-time,” he explains. This transition allowed him to channel his culinary creativity into crafting functional and aesthetically pleasing ceramic pieces particularly for the hospitality industry.
Shannon, on the other hand, brings a wealth of experience from the corporate world, specifically in risk and compliance for financial services. This background has instilled in her a meticulous approach to planning and risk management, which complements Daniel’s more spontaneous, creative process. “Whenever we have a large project, I’m always wanting to plan, build a plan, and build contingency into that plan because I know things are going to go wrong, always,” she notes.
Different artists, different approaches
At Clay Cartel, the creative process is both collaborative and individualistic. Daniel and Shannon work on a variety of projects, from commissions for restaurants to personal artistic endeavors. “I love to make tableware and utilitarian pieces, pieces that people can use every day,” says Daniel. His background as a chef influences his designs, resulting in functional and ergonomic pieces that are both beautiful and practical.
Shannon, meanwhile, enjoys the challenge of creating modern classics that can fit into any decor. “The thing that always works best is when you’re making things that you really love,” she says.
Building a community
One of the standout features of Clay Cartel is its strong sense of community. The studio is not just a workspace for Daniel and Shannon, it’s a hub for local ceramicists and hobbyists.
We have members who work from our studio, and they come from all walks of life”
Shannon Lewis → Co-owner
These members range from professional artists to students and retirees, all drawn by a shared love for working with clay.
The studio also serves as a firing service for local potters who create their pieces at home. Just make sure you tell them the correct type of clay used in your piece, lest it all falls to pieces (or in one instance, melts). “We were told that it was a high-fired stoneware, and it actually was a low-fired earthenware. And it ended up being a nice puddle of solid clay and glaze when I opened the kiln,” Daniel recounts with a chuckle.
Splitting sales to each maker
Daniel and Shannon rely on Square for seamless payment processing and data. “We always take our phones with our Square app with us when we’re off-site, say at a market or somewhere else like that,” Shannon says. This flexibility ensures that they can accept payments anywhere, even if their primary Square Reader is unavailable. “Having the backup of tapping on the phone is another contingency for us, and it’s great to have,” she adds.
Since the pair also sell works from other creators, making sure the money goes to the right accounts for each piece sold is crucial, particularly as they will be selling works from multiple makers at the Sydney Ceramics Market. Square’s integration with Amaka via Xero has streamlined this process.
“The integration allows us to map the items in our Square dashboard straight into our Xero accounts,” Shannon explains. “So that when we go to do our bank reconciliations, the payments that come from Square go straight into the correct accounts. And it’s just so much easier. It’s a breeze. We don’t have to sort through each Square payment to see which goes into what account.”
Fostering creativity and collaboration
Clay Cartel is more than just a ceramic studio; it’s a community where creativity thrives and every piece of pottery is a labour of love. As they prepare for the Sydney Ceramics Market, Daniel and Shannon are excited about showcasing the diverse talents of their members. “At the Sydney Ceramics Market, we’re going to have several of our members selling pieces with us at our stall,” Shannon says.
The collaborative environment at Clay Cartel fosters creativity and learning. Members are always sharing their techniques and ideas, creating a rich tapestry of artistic expression. “We encourage that. And as soon as I see someone doing something new, I’m asking them to do a workshop for everybody else,” Shannon says.
