Meet Sam Toundaian | Ceramic Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sam Toundaian and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sam, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I grew up in metro Detroit, in Oakland County. As I spent my 18 years here, I truly hated almost every minute of it. The lack of outdoor activities, the social status needed to “fit in”, and the general energy of the city never fueled me and made me feel welcome. In middle school, I was introduced to clay which has sort of lead me to where I am today. The art room created an escape for me to get out of the chaos and do something that made me feel good for at least one hour of the day.

I fell so in love with creating art out of clay, I took the class every year, every semester until I graduated high school. I won a few awards during my lower education days, but I never introduced to the idea that being an independent artist was an option. I had a pipe dream of having my own studio or maybe being a ceramics teacher. My high school ceramics teacher became a mentor and still great friend of mine. There was part of me who wanted to be that for others but the drive to have my own studio was bigger. Although I loved the arts and everything I had accomplished, I never knew of the careers or options around it. That was until I left for college to Northern Michigan University.

I spent 5 years at NMU where I took on a degree in Art Education and a concentration in Ceramics. I was inspired constantly by the beautiful Lake Superior shore, especially the Lake Superior Agates. I was an avid agate hunter, going any chance I could. I went on and I won second place at my senior exhibition that was purely inspired by the feeling of peace being by the lake, whether I was finding gems or just swimming my worries away. As I graduated I wanted to expand my clay experience and see what I was really made of.

Currently I reside in Missoula, Montana where I can engage in my other passion, skiing. Here i am surrounded by other self made businesses, artists, opportunities and the amazing mountains.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As my business grows and my opportunities expand, I hear from my community first hand how my work stands out. From its refined make to the original surface decoration, this is something I take pride in. I strive to create your favorite piece of art, whether it be a sculpture or your next favorite coffee mug.

I just started really diving into the independent business side of my art after I left a job at a local pre school. This job sucked all inspiration and motivation to ever create and I knew something had to give.

This has been a long journey for me, some days I feel like quitting. It’s can be really hard to balance a full time job and running a business while also taking care of myself and my own mental health. Times like these I’m grateful for my organization skills! Setting times for clay after or before work and constantly staying inspired and kind to myself is what keeps me going. My art is like nobody else’s just like I am like nobody else. This goes for my experiences, especially in the journey of my own business.

It can be easy to be sucked into Instagram famous artists and think I’m not ever going to be there or have that following. But through this, I have learned that instagram is showing one side of these artists lives. I think it’s important to remember that the number of followers you have on instagram doesn’t define the artist or their work. It takes time to build a following and gain trust amongst a community. It takes time to build large bodies of work and establish a space to create.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Missoula is such a special town. There is always so so much to do from live shows to art walks its always bustling.

If my best friend was coming it would probably be in the winter. We would ski all day, and follow that by some beers and maybe some pool and veggie burgers downtown.

HOWEVER!!

If they came in the summer that’s a whole other story. We would float the river, see a show at the Kettle House Amphitheater, and go for hikes to lakes with my dog. We would probably hit Big Dipper for some ice cream at some point and maybe meet the homies at the skatepark depending on how the ski season treated our bodies. Its always fun in Missoula & summers are definitely a heck of a time around town.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Heck yea!!!

I wouldn’t be here without my family of course. ALWAYS giving my art a home through the years.

I think a big shout out is to my very first ceramics teacher who encouraged me to stick with clay and enter some competitions. She empowered me and I think of her often. Thanks Ms. Edmunds! Thanks to Matt Beauchamp for continuing to educate and mentor me through high school!

Huge shouts to Brian Kakas my NMU professor who created large opportunities and shared his mastery to help me be the confident artist I am now.

Other shout outs are to my friends and the Missoula community for appreciating my art, hard work and dedication. Starting and running a one woman business is hard, but with y’all its mega worth it!!

Website: sammytceramics.com

Instagram: sammytceramics

Image Credits
Lillia Moore Photography