We recently connected with Leslie Jenner and have shared our conversation below.

Leslie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

How did you learn to do what you do?
I have always loved making and creating art. When I was little, I used to make these little paintings on scraps of cardboard, and hang them in my room. It was my art gallery, and I made my family come and look at it. My 4th grade teacher used to tell me that I was going to be a graphic designer one day. Of course- I had no clue what that was. But, once I was in high school, it was pretty well set in stone that I would go into something creative. I was lucky to have a ton of great art classes in high school- even a few ceramics classes. I won a few national awards in high school for painting- and that was just the reassurance I needed to keep going. So, in college, I really fell in love with clay, and received my BFA in studio Ceramics in 2006. Since college, I have many continuing education workshops, atmospheric firings, many trials and errors- and experiments under my belt over these last 20 years. I have really put in the time and am extremely thoughtful about what I offer. My wheels are always turning- and I really strive to stay focused. And at this stage in my career, I am focusing on bringing a small collection of thoughtfully considered items to the wholesale arena. I have worked with retail buyers on a large scale at a previous job, and I definitely have a good grasp on how to succeed- and am truly learning something new every day.

Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?
If given the chance to do this all over again- I probably would not have gone to college. While I can definitely see the value of higher education- I think that hands on studio experience at that young age would have suited me better. An apprenticeship, or maybe just going off on my own would have still gotten to me where I am today. Some of the most utilized knowledge I have, I sought after on my own because I was genuinely curious. There are always pottery newcomers, who have come up in the age of Instagram. I was not that lucky. We did not have such immediate access to so much work, and inspiration during my formal education. We had to go see work at galleries, read books and magazines to get inspired. We had to test every new glaze over and over again- we had to experiment, and learn for ourselves. Nowadays, the visuals references and detailed tutorials available, have made it so easy to become successful. But, I look back at my college years, and can admire my brave, young self out there and trying new things.

What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Pottery is the obstacle. Pottery will break your heart. I think for me, having a consistent studio space to work- with reliable equipment is not easy. Clay is heavy. Wheels are heavy. Kilns are heavy, and often complicated. None of the “pottery stuff” travels well. Additionally, cost of materials is always an obstacle. There is so much potential for waste and loss if you are not methodical about working with clay. I have only been really settled in my home pottery studio for 7 years now. Before this my creative space was very disjointed- making in one place, firing in another. Or even creating in a different medium altogether- like printmaking or painting- just to have something to fill the clay void.

What skills do you think were most essential?
The thing that I want to tell every new potter is “DO NOT CHERISH YOUR POTS!” It will fire badly, it will crack, glaze will run, and it will ping. Just make another one. Just re-do it. Don’t waste your time trying to fix that piece. Learn something from it, and move on. So, I guess for me the most essential skill is just…letting go. Also, for me I think commitment is essential. The old saying of “There are people less qualified than you, doing the things you want to do, simply because they decided to believe in themselves and take action.” So, I am all in.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Leslie Jenner. I am the maker behind Leslie Jenner Handmade, a small batch pottery/art studio in Homewood, Illinois. My current clay work revolves around exploring illustrative, colorful, and hand-drawn elements. Folks always say how fun my work is. It may not be for everyone, but I think I have found my people.

What type of products you provide?
My current line include handmade ceramic mugs, jewelry, planters, dishes, platters, wall pockets, and wall décor. I use lovely toasty orange terra cotta clay- with vibrant shiny glazes.

What are the main things you want potential followers to know about your work?
Everything I make is truly one of a kind. When I approach a piece of clay at the decorating stage, I always consider the piece individually. I create a variety of marks and drawings in the clay, creating spaces and shapes to fill with beautiful colorful glazes at the next step. I always try to make for me first- make the things that I want to make. That definitely keeps clay fun, and keeps me evolving. I definitely see a lot of work out there, and you can just tell, the artist is so removed from the piece-like they made it just to sell. That is a dangerous cycle to get into. So, I always like to touch base with myself when I make a batch of pots, and make sure it feels authentic and cohesive.

What are you most proud of?
I have recently become really proud of my process. I run a pretty tight ship in the studio- and have become excellent at planning every minute to maximize production. I know exactly what I need to work on when I get up in the morning, and know exactly at what point I can quit for the day. I am sure it looks like absolute chaos to anyone else!
Also- I have brought in a Studio Assistant! She has been a game changer for me. So, I am proud of myself for inviting someone into my chaos- and also that I actually asked for help! That’s not always easy for me.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Sometimes, the reward is in the moments in between production, when I can just make something with out having to worry about monetizing it. Sometimes, it is just opening a fresh bag of clay and working alone in the studio.

Since really going full throttle on the wholesale side of my business- I also really enjoy seeing all the new customers and states and cities we are shipping to. We have started putting dots on a giant map- and that is really rewarding.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

In your view, what can society do to best support artists, creatives, and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think the obvious answer to this is to make a purchase directly from the artist. And if that isn’t possible- you can always attend markets and shows. There are so many markets out there now; there is really something for everyone at every price point. Having a market be well attended, is hugely important to vendors and artists. It signals to people that there is a value and a purpose, and creates a good reputation for future markets. I selfishly love talking to people at markets. It forces me to talk through my ideas- and I have really learned a lot during these conversations with strangers. It allows me to look at my work differently and make pivots as needed. One of my favorite quips is “Buy weird art, drink expensive booze”.
Also- I really think artists need space. Encourage your municipality to create public art spaces, festivals or programs to keep the artists in your community. Not always easy, but will improve everyone’s quality of life within that community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lesliejenner.com
• Instagram: leslie.jenner
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009849462722

Image Credits

All images are owned by Leslie Jenner.