An Inspired Chat with Mishy Katz of Happy Valley

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Mishy Katz. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Mishy, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I am lucky that I get to be creative in my work, but it seems that other creative outlets also contribute to joy in life. Recently I have joined a couple postcard groups where we create original art postcards of various mediums. Some are painted, drawn, multimedia, some are sewn!! I have mostly been using gouache, watercolor and markers and have so much fun! Sending these little pieces of art out into the world definitely inspires joy.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Michelle Katz and I go by Mishy most of the time. I have two very strong creative passions I pursue and both have afforded me so much joy and pride, I can’t imagine any other path being better. I have a very busy pottery school and studio for working artists, which has been a longtime success in North Phoenix as Desert Dragon Pottery (est. 1994). Over the years I have had the opportunity to teach students of all ages and all abilities and offer the clay experience to numerous groups, celebrities, schools and individuals. Alongside the clay art I have also been studying and learning the art of songwriting and audio recording and have built up a catalog of original and cover music under my artist name Mishy Katz. My greatest joy these days is being able to experience both of these creative endeavors.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I would say both my parents saw me clearly before I was able. My dad always said he knew I could do whatever I wanted to do. He is 93 and still doing whatever he wants to do! My mother always encouraged me to pursue art and music, even when my insecurities held me back. She passed away in 2018 but one of the things she constantly told me was that I needed to record a childrens’ cd. May 2 I released an album of 13 original children’s songs and it is dedicated to my mom. I feel very grateful that she encouraged me and that I followed through.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that no matter how hard things get, the key is to just keep going forward and doing your best with what you have. When I thought I could not go on, self-care and turning to a strong support system gave me strength I did not know I had and allowed me to have more compassion and understanding for others. The strength and power I have now would never have been discovered if I had only encountered success.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I admire anyone who values their character integrity over their power. Taylor Swift is a great example of a powerful person who holds true to their values and character and exhibits kindness, compassion and consideration despite the incredible privilege and power that she holds. I just love hearing the stories of her supporting her fans and various charitable causes with not only financial support but her presence and connection.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow my customers and fans would miss the safe environment I provide at Desert Dragon Pottery and my home recording studio- Pink Door Studio for aspiring artists to learn to create without fear or criticism and also the emotionally and spiritually uplifting music I currently write, record and release.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.mishykatz.com http://www.desertdragonpottery.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/mishy.katz instagram.com/desertdragonpottery
• Facebook: facebook.com/mishykatz facebook.com/desertdragonpottery
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/mishykatz

Image Credits
All pictures are mine.