Q&A with Arny Nadler

What is your favorite tool, material, and/or process?
I’m digging clay right now.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received about your work?
You’re thinking way too much and it’s getting boring. Stop it.

What is the best advice you’ve ever given to someone about their work?
Be fearless.

Where do you make work?
In my U-City studio.

What do you listen to/watch while you work?
Lots of NPR. Too much NPR.

What’s your top studio jam?
Elvis Costello, King of America

Best studio hack OR the skill you’d be most lost without?
I use stretch plastic wrap and cable ties for everything. Also, bungee cords…

What food can be used to bribe you?
A student once baked a cookie in my likeness as a bribe to take her off the waitlist and let her into the class. It worked.

Do you have a studio uniform? Please describe.
Overalls for messy days.

It’s the 11th hour before your opening. What are you doing?
Having a glass of liquid courage.

Who or what has had the biggest influence on your work?
My father.

A book you’ve read more than twice is..
Living Materials by Oliver Andrews.

How do you stay motivated?
A healthy dose of fear of failure.

How do you procrastinate?
Finding new ways to organize the studio.

Early Bird or Night Owl?
Early bird.

Do you have pets? If so, what are their species and names?
Gus and Roman, best living cats ever.

Biggest pet peeve?
Tardiness.

What is your favorite thing about St. Louis?
Folks here are pretty friendly.

Epoxy, mineral spirits, or Command-Z?
Epoxy.

Tell us something we forgot to ask:
I think you’ve got this covered, thanks.