Meet Brittany Fahres | Ceramicist and Graphic Designer

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

Hi Brittany, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Pursuing an artistic career was originally fueled by my artistic and supportive mother; along with my desire to create tangible, dimensional works of art. The physicality ceramics requires has always drawn me in; from the muculent clay, to the ‘push and pull’ energy of the form on the wheel. I value each opportunity I have gained through pursuing an artistic pathway, having started in Art Education, branching out to graphic design, and eventually growing a ceramic studio of my own. It is my belief that art forms tend to meld into one another, and that an eye for design can be used in many creative careers – my journey is just one example.

What should our readers know about your business?
Moonshine Design is an exploration in dimension and color. While experimenting with clay bodies, glaze finishes, and durable, functional forms; I focus mainly on the consumer and their growing collection. The Moonshine ceramic collector has a passion for design, curation, and making the small moments, such as pouring coffee and drinking tea, important rituals of everyday life. This reflects many aspects of my own life, such as balancing time at work and home, and enjoying the slow solitary parts of each day. The Moonshine brand mirrors my own passions – coffee-lover, home-maker, and ceramic collector.

Building a successful business model is a work in progress. Meeting the changes as they come, and having my sights set on the next strategic business move – whether it’s financial growth, a bigger studio space, or hiring more assistants – means I have big decisions, every day. It is not natural nor easy for me to step into a position of leadership, as I have an empathetic and intrinsic tendency to work in solitude. That being said, I could not have grown Moonshine’s production to this scale without the help of my assistants. Accepting help and having a common goal has meant success in busy seasons, while adding purpose to the work that we do.

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?
As an artist, I absolutely love the curated collective spaces that have popped up throughout the city – such as Forth and Nomad (an essential hub for all artist goods), Space Montrose (a variety of paintings, paper goods, and ceramic mugs), and any ‘up and coming’ shop that makes its way to East Downtown. You’ll find me at any and every coffee shop to start my day (Brass Tacks, Urban Brew, and Tout Suite), or hitting up a brewery with friends in the afternoon (Karbach and St. Arnold’s are the best in town).

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My journey would not have been possible without the early support of Starseed Hostel. This creative studio common space not only supports small, startup businesses, but donates 20% of their year-end profits to underserved HTX communities. They run their business with a humanistic approach, and never fail to support the hustle, creativity, and passion in each of their tenants.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MoonshineDesignShop

Instagram: @moonshinedesign_tx

Image Credits
Photography by Jefferson Chan