Seth Rogen has proven himself an accomplished comedy actor and writer throughout two decades in Hollywood. In recent years, he has tried his hand at ceramics but does he really sell his ashtrays?
Seth Rogen does not sell his ashtrays commercially. He does enjoy making ceramics, primarily ashtrays, and vases, but apparently not as a moneymaking venture. Rogen says that he finds the process helps him relax and unwind.
For more on how Seth Rogen discovered the joy of making ceramics and some of the response to his ashtrays, read on.
Rogen and Ceramics
In a May 2019 interview with GQ, Rogen discussed his appreciation for making ceramics, stating that he first took classes alongside his wife, Lauren Miller.
The actor/writer finds working with clay relaxing, saying that it’s therapeutic and comparing it to yoga but with a tangible end product.
He explained to Interview Magazine that he feels a lot of his work as a Hollywood star is intangible, so being able to create a physical object as part of a creative process was rewarding to him.
Rogen has long been a collector of ashtrays, owing to his status as a proponent of marijuana (exemplified by his founding a cannabis company alongside longtime friend and writing partner Evan Goldberg, named Houseplant).
As such, trying his hand at making his own ashtrays from scratch must have seemed a logical next step. In his words, he “smoke[s] joints all day” so he interacts with ashtrays a lot and wanted to create his perfect “bed” for them.
Rogen felt that there was an immediate sense of reward the first time he smoked with one of his own ashtrays, despite their initial lack of refinement.
Though Rogen and his wife, who has made ceramics since childhood, took lessons in a studio near to their LA home, they have since set up their own home studio. This was partly due to not wanting to leave their dog at home for hours when they could spend some money and work at their house instead.
Seth enjoys having a hobby that is completely separate from his acting and writing work, especially one where he can his work improving over time.
He has also commented that he enjoys smoking cannabis while making his ceramics, forming a cycle where he is smoking while making ashtrays to help him smoke comfortably.
Professional Prospects
GARAGE Magazine sought a professional opinion on Rogen’s work, asking a product and operations manager whether or not the actor had any future in the ceramics trade.
The representative answered that she would gladly buy them “because it looks like someone really enjoyed the process”, pointing out that it isn’t always the refinement of the finished product but also the creative process itself that can give a piece of art its charm.
In the end, there’s really no need to question whether or not Rogen’s ceramics are of professional quality. He didn’t share them on his social media because he was looking to sell them, just to share his enjoyment of a new hobby and one that other people might be willing to try because of his recommendation.
Criticism is all too common a response to a budding artist sharing their creations online, even if that artist is a public figure. After one Twitter user commented that Rogen’s pots were “adequate” and “tasteless”, Rogen replied that he was “doing [his] best”.
Pottery is a difficult art form at the best of times and Rogen mentioned breaking a vase while taking it out of his kiln and losing hours of hard work. With traditional hobby numbers dwindling, probably due in part to the way people feel compelled to compare themselves to experts on social media, it’s encouraging to see a celebrity like Rogen sharing his delight at making something.