Jean Adrienne
Potter/Ceramicist
As part of an intiative to celebrate our homegrown female entrepreneurs with a passion for their craft and community, we interviewed Jean from Ves Studio.
How did your passion for pottery start?
I got into pottery when I received a scholarship to study in Japan in 2010. One class lead to almost a year of classes in Osaka and it also taught me about the strict discipline the Japanese have in pursuing a craft.
What's your favourite ceramic work?
The Balancing Act series. It's a series of works where I portray how life choices are always a balancing act.
How do you take care of yourself?
Respect clay as a medium and try to be sincere in the process of making. Once I begin work, I try to make sure that the clay is not wasted.
"Making a choice in life is a balancing act, and sometimes we fail but we can always try again."
What is something you would say to new potters/ceramists?
Don't expect to make anything good at the start, but really enjoy the process, learn and embrace the steep learning curve. The only way to improve is to be consistent in your practice.
What is one interesting fact about you?
I have a soft spot for plushies, cute figurines, anad chonky animals, and maybe that goes into my work because I also like to make fat pots!
What is the biggest challenge?
Once you run your own business, you never really stop thinking about work, and that can cause burnouts. It's important to remind myself of the people who I care about and have to make time for, and to take breaks.
