Meet Faith Whittenberg

Today we’d like to introduce you to Faith Whittenberg.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My journey in art has been kind of roundabout. Ever since I could remember, I’ve had a love for art and creating things. I pretty much want to try just about EVERYTHING. Starting off with drawing, painting, sewing, cooking, building, woodworking, etc. I always wanted to make bagels, sourdough bread, croissants, things that were not ‘normal’ to prepare at home. It started a quest to make ‘everything’ I possibly could from scratch. I even built a huge woodfired oven just so I could bake my artisan breads!

Then I started getting into designing my own handbags. They never had enough pockets, big enough pockets, or pockets in the right place, so I began creating them myself. I didn’t have an industrial sewing machine, so I was unable to work with heavy duty materials such as leather. Until I learned that you could stitch leather bags together by hand, which ignited a whole new passion—leatherworking!

I began making handbags and designing them ‘just’ how I wanted them to be. In the sewing world, not many people know how to work with leather, but in the leather world, not many can sew regular things, like a bag lining. So I was kind of the link in the middle. I had a big interest in people wanting to learn how to do it on Facebook, so I decided I’d make my own patterns, and maybe start teaching people on YouTube.

My brothers are in the computer design/marketing industry, so I came to Southern California to intern under them. They helped me launch my small business, Faith & Providence, and began to show me the ropes. One of my younger brothers introduced me to Instagram late in 2016. I had absolutely NO idea how it worked or what Instagram could even offer. As I began to uncover the tool that Instagram is—and the communities inside Instagram—my life began to change! Hahaha! Long story short, I saw a video of a now-good friend Curt Hammerly @hammerlyceramics. He was throwing clay on the wheel. I thought, “Wow, that’s really cool, I want to try it!”

Ended up, every single free moment I had I was watching videos on Instagram, following ceramic artists, and asking them millions of questions. The desire to make something just grew and grew! All I wanted to do was design my own mug and make it myself! My sister-in-law told me of a ceramics class offered nearby, and the rest is history!

I made a complete change over from leatherworking into ceramics. I have come to find that every facet of art or ‘making,’ from my past, has only come to serve in helping me to get a quicker grasp on ceramics. There is a process in ceramics. You can’t just go in and slap something together. Ha, well I guess you can, but if you have a plan—it comes out much better! There is a timeline—throw/build, leather hard, trim, bone dry, bisque fire, glaze, final fire (for starters). The start to finish is a long process that can take an enormous amount of forethought to be able to achieve the desired outcome. I find it one of the most challenging art forms I’ve ever worked with, there are SO MANY opportunities for you to mess it up! Yet, that is also one of the challenges I love best! “If” you can get a piece that comes out the way you want in the end—to me, it’s practically a miracle!

So, for the past year, I’ve been trying different techniques to learn this new medium as fast as I can. The learning curve has been very high at times. You must be able to ‘throw’ well on the wheel, and then trim, and if you can do all that you’re off to a good start. Glazing ceramics is a completely whole new ball game. There are infinite ways to glaze—“decorate” your piece. This right now is my biggest challenge. Sure, anyone can do it! You can slap glaze on there and be done! Trying to attain what is in my mind has sometimes been difficult, but I’m loving it! If you see a piece of ceramic art that is beautiful, I’ll tell you right now…it’s a miracle, and probably has HOURS of thought and time put into its creation.

Please tell us about your art.
Since I’m still relatively new to ceramics, I feel as if I’m still finding what my ‘style’ will be. I believe I gravitate towards novelty pieces—really, whatever ideas come to mind—Star Wars, motorcycles, cute pumpkins, or sticking with my Japanese roots and going Asian style.

I love making mugs because I love to drink coffee! I think if you can drink coffee every morning out of a handmade mug that someone crafted ‘just’ for you…that’s pretty special. What a great way to start off your day! I want people to think, “Faith made this just for me!” as they drink whatever they are drinking! I also love to just create whatever I want! That’s the amazing thing about ceramics, if you can dream it, you can make it (…mostly)! I have a few big ideas I’d love to try, but haven’t attempted them just yet!

My brother once told me that there are no “original ideas” anymore! It seems to be true. Just ideas rehashed in different ways. But then I got to thinking, “God is infinite, and if He is infinite then there still must be something new out there”! I have a direct line to…Infinite, so why not ask? Most ideas I get, come from asking the Lord, “Well, what should I make today?” Then I’ll get an idea that will pop into my head and go from there.

Another great passion I have is to teach and tell stories! Teaching people what I have learned, so they can give it a try themselves, or telling people stories of things that the Lord has done or shown me in my life! When struggling to find which direction I would take with Faith & Providence, particularly on Instagram, there were so many avenues I could go down. I was again talking to my brother Isaiah about this, “Everyone has their ‘thing,’ but what is mine?” He told me, “Faith, your page is about you and the Lord! You can do whatever you want, there are no rules!” Yay!!! No rules!!! So basically Faith & Providence is a place to share, learn, grow, and if you like something I make, then you can purchase it and support wherever the Lord chooses to take me next!

My artwork and shop may not be as beautifully color-coordinated, or just ‘one’ particular style as other makers…but it’s me! I feel as people get to know me more, they will see that in each piece I make, it’s a part of who I am. I love to make people smile and find joy! Life is hard—but while there’s life, there is hope! That’s what Faith & Providence is all about!

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
This is a hard one for sure. I guess for me my biggest thing is—work within my means. I choose not to go into debt but work with what I have, save, and grow as I can. This might mean you can’t do as much, but the added pressure and stress of huge debts and bills take away all the joy of doing the work. If you are passionate about something, then learn as you wait. I do believe that where God guides, He will provide. He has been faithful to do that in my life, I’m just going one day at a time using what He has given, and walking through the doors He opens. Right now, that is enough for me.

Don’t choose a creative path for the money, do what you love, because you love it. The money will, perhaps, come in time. Enjoy what you are learning and work hard! There is NO EASY button!!! One of my favorite quotes I heard once—”The world belongs to the disciplined.” To be successful in any craft takes discipline and hours upon hours! If someone is amazing at their craft—no doubt they have put in the time. Don’t think it’s going to happen overnight, it’s not. So, enjoy the process!!! Don’t look at the end goal, things happen, things change! I never dreamed I’d be a ceramic artist, I didn’t even know I wanted to be one! But now, I do believe I have found what I’ve been looking for!

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can find me on Instagram @faithandprovidence, Facebook at Faith & Providence, and YouTube at Faith & Providence.

Contact Info:

• Website: faithandprovidence.com
• Email: faith@faithandprovidence.com
• Instagram: @faithandprovidence
• Facebook: Faith & Providence
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVLlqLZOiXq-Gz8XjGkI64w?view_as=subscriber

Image Credit:
faith@faithandprovidence.com

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