Meet Jenna Michele | Potter

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

Hi Jenna, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
One thing outsiders do not know about having a ceramic business is that it is VERY expensive to sustain. The problem I think most ceramicists have is that people are used to mug prices at department stores and they don’t really quite understand how much education, time and money it takes to make just 1 mug. The clay I use was $13 dollars a bag when I started a few years ago and now it’s $27 and glazes are now averaging $30 for 16fl oz, the price of pottery tools is also a factor. At minimum you need a wheel, clay, a bucket, a sponge a wire, a rib and bats just to throw the piece. Then you need a kiln to fire the piece and all of that means nothing if you dknt have the knowledge it require to throw a piece and to fire. For example, after you throw a piece and it is bone dry you need to bisque fire it to the bisque fire temperature after you bisque fire it then you need to glaze fire it. You need know if your clay is a cone 5/6 clay or a cone 10 clay and then you need to know the glaze that corresponds with that clay and that firing. You also need to make sure it’s food safe… which is a whole nother thing all together. There is SO much more I could honestly get into and so much more that I don’t even have knowledge of that only another ceramicist would understand… and that is one thing an outsider will have zero idea about. It honestly takes dedication, time and effort to really learn and understand the inner workings of pottery.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think the only thing that sets me apart is my drive to continue creating. Anyone can be where I am as long as they stay dedicated the craft. You just have to want it bad enough to not let any road block stop you. What I want the world to know about me is that no matter what I created. Whether it be painting, photography, sculpting or throwing; I was a creator.

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?
Honestly, I don’t do anything but make pottery and be with my cats. My best friend would have to have the itinerary to take me places lol. I would just say, universal, Disneyland or the beach.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
To be honest I’m not really sure. I kind of dove head first. I started following a lot of other potters on instagram and when I quit my job to do pottery I went back to school for it and most of what I have learned has bee. Trial and error and watching /learning from other potters at rhe studio that I joined. For the most part everyone at the studio was very helpful when answering questions and very willing to help. I could not just name 1 person, it’s more of a community thing.

Website: Www.photojenicart.co

Instagram: Instagram.com/photojenicart