Rising Stars: Meet Randi Punnett of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Randi Punnett.

Hi Randi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always loved making art. However, I struggled with confidence to make it a career so I studied Art Ed at Michigan State University and became an Art Educator. Throughout my 15-year career I tested my ability to earn money as an artist. I started with knitted stuffed animals, blankets, hats, and scarves. Then tried photography. Earning money doing maternity shoots and birthday parties. I continued to draw and paint as well selling or gifting a few pieces here and there. When I became a mother all of this fell to the wayside as is common with many. My last 3 years I taught high school ceramics and sculpture and my love of creating intensified enough to start seriously considering a full-time career making art. Ceramics was always my favorite but it can be challenging to create with clay without the proper facilities. During that time, COVID hit so my teaching consisted mostly of creating on video for my students to see. I turned my formal dining room into a studio and I purchased my own wheel. The purchase of the wheel got my dream of being a ceramic artist into full swing as I began doing commissioned work for friends and family. Since then, I have been creating and selling my art at craft fairs and online. I left teaching full time to pursue more art making to have flexibility with my family and art making. I consider leaving my full time teaching position one of the bravest things I have ever done and am very proud of that.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Balancing a career in the arts with raising children and daily life is always a challenge.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Currently, ceramic figures based on my emotional journey from the last few years and also a variety of nature inspired pieces. My figurative pieces have the ability to connect with people on an emotional level and my nature inspired works bring joy to viewers through their details and whimsy. I am proud of my determination to keep learning new techniques and methods in orders to continuously push myself as an artist.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
They can reach out to me via Instagram @rkpunnett_handmade.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rkpunnett_handmade?igsh=OWFwMGdvNGdjY2xy