Two local Denton business owners, Erin Allice and Melissa Getty, started as engineer advisors at the university before rediscovering their love of ceramics. Together, Allice and Getty created their business, Denton Ceramic’s Collective, to help bring together emerging artists to share their experiences and ideas.
The Denton Ceramic’s Collective is aimed toward nontraditional students, such as those who work full-time or have kids. It’s a way for local artists to support each other and learn from one another so they can succeed successfully in the art business world. The partners created this community group in the fall of 2018, comprising five artists who do events together as one business.
“We have a big group chat where everyone can ask questions,” Getty said, who continues to work part-time as an engineering advisor at UNT. “We like to do a lot of community workshops whenever we can.”
On the other hand, Allice decided to focus solely on their business. She quit her corporate job at the university and began pursuing ceramics. She woke up early every morning and immediately got started on her art projects. Allice’s average day of creating ceramic art ends almost every day at midnight.
“I love how I’ve set up my schedule,” Allice said. “It’s art all day.”
Every member of their business has a separate line of work. Allice’s art concentrates on fairies and organic nature, while Getty’s art has many themes of daydreams and dreamscapes.
“If I can remember any of my dreams and think, ‘Wow, that was really stupid, why did I dream that?‘ Then I’ll slap it on a forum,” Getty said. She describes her art as “whimsical silly things.”
Allice, who has had a passion for creating art since she was a child, found comfort in taking a ceramics class at the university when she was older. When Allice was an undergraduate in 1999, she did not have the best professor. Allice explained that he made her feel discouraged and that ceramics was not something she could do outside of school.
Almost two decades later, Allice’s friend and coworker, Getty, convinced her to take a ceramics class at the university. The two immediately fell in love with ceramics, which led them to where they are in their careers today.
Most of Allice’s inspiration comes from her love of nature. She frequently goes on hikes, fossil hunts and rock-collecting adventures, which helps her visualize her next ceramic project.
University alum Eric Koch, Allice’s husband, supports her and her business. He always lends a helping hand, whether setting up her art stand at markets, sitting behind her work or assisting in selling her art pieces.
“I love all of the creative glaze work that she does,” said Koch. “It’s really fascinating to watch.”
He finds her specific hand designs to be some of her best work. Koch loves how passionate his wife is about her art and how she always creates something different.
“I love that she’s able to make her small business work,” said Koch.
Koch is no a stranger to art. He is a professional graphic designer for the university and does freelance art. Although he does not play much of a role in her business, he does contribute by assisting her in holding buckets of clay or pouring glaze.
Allice was scheduled to work alongside many other talented artists at the downtown square this past Saturday at Denton Makers during Thin Line Fest, but was forced to relocate due to severe weather. She managed to keep going and sold her ceramic art pieces inside the UNT CoLab.
Despite the mixed weather forecast, the turnout for her and a few other vendors’ art did extremely well. Her mystical nature-themed art was a success. As she sold her creations to each curious customer, Allice was admired. She made sure to tell a backstory and her inspiration for each creation.
She explained how her art is for anyone interested in organic nature and how she tries to bring that into the house and living spaces.
“I want it to be something that will bring a smile to your face,” Allice said. “or even when you’re just enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning and seeing it brings calmness.”
