We were lucky to catch up with Jaici Shiemke recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jaici thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

One of the best investments I’ve made as an artist has been exploring different media. I’m not a mixed media artist, but it’s led me to my true passion, ceramics. It’s also helped me create more unique work and strengthen my problem-solving skills.

I don’t know much about the journeys of other artists (professional or otherwise). When people talk about not being able to find inspiration or being in a slump, I sometimes wonder whether they’ve found a medium that really resonates with them. I used to have these problems too when I worked in other media, but not very often anymore. The key is finding a sense of flow—when you’re so engaged in what you’re doing that time passes without you noticing. So for those who are always struggling to make things, I’d encourage them to try something new and see where it takes them.

Working across disciplines gives me more creative options and allows me to combine techniques in ways that help my work stand out. Right now, I’m particularly fond of exploring illustration in my ceramics. I also plan on exploring how to make my work look like watercolor and acrylic paintings. I’ve also seen ceramics combined with techniques like screen printing, crochet, cross-stitching, quilt-like patterns, leather working, mosaics, etc. These hybrid works often feel surprising and “outside the box.”For inspiration, I recommend looking up artists like Jacques Monneraud, Callahan Callahan, Aaron Raymond, Sarah Gromek, and Jeremy Brooks.



Working in different media also gives you a larger skillset for tackling problems and achieving the results you want. Techniques, habits, and ways of thinking often carry over between disciplines in unexpected ways. Since focusing my art business on ceramics, I missed painting in watercolor. The thing I enjoyed the most about it was dropping colors together in water on the page and seeing how it would turn out once dried. Seeing some artists online water down glazes and swirl them around, it inspired me to try it out too. It’s not exactly the same because glazes can react to each other and turn into unexpected colors when fired in a kiln. The stakes are higher when you don’t know what you’ll get, but it’s quite magical when you get a piece and it’s better than what you imagined.

It hasn’t been cheap to explore so many media, but it’s been incredibly rewarding—and it’s made me a better artist.

Jaici , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved art, and I often stood out as an artist among my peers. Even though my middle and high school didn’t offer art classes, I knew it was what I wanted to study in college. I went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Northern Michigan University, graduating with a focus in graphic design and an emphasis in painting.

In college, it suddenly became much easier for me to explore new media—it felt like a lot of doors opened at once. From that point on, I found it exciting to experiment and learn how different things were made. Trying new media became a hobby in itself, and by the time I graduated, I had built up a large and varied body of work.

One project that drew a lot of attention was a set of shark stickers I designed for an illustration class. A friend loved them so much that he bought multiple sheets, and we ended up collaborating on screen-printed t-shirts and sweatshirts using the design. That enthusiasm—from him and others—pushed me to start my own business, Yes Hello It’s Me Designs (now called Calie & Co), as a way to sell the work I had been creating. I opened a shop on Etsy and started selling at local farmers’ markets. Starting a business was never part of my plan, but once I began, I quickly fell in love with it.

About a year after graduating, I landed a job as a graphic designer at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. While I was there, I took my first ceramics class—and immediately fell in love with it. I began selling ceramic pieces in my shop, and a few years later, they became the main focus of my business.

Today, I’m based just outside Portland, Oregon. I still work full-time as a graphic designer while running my ceramics business on the side. I now have a dedicated studio space—and even my own kiln—which has opened up many more possibilities in my work. I’m excited to see where it all leads in the next few years.

My journey as an artist has been a winding one. For a long time, I struggled to define a clear niche, but over the past few years, I’ve developed a stronger sense of what I want my work to be.

When people see my work, I want it to bring them joy. My animal dishes, in particular, are meant to remind people of pets they love—whether it’s one waiting for them at home or one they remember from years ago. I also want my work to help people express themselves, so their spaces feel more personal and uniquely theirs.

There’s a lot of joy in everything I create, and sharing that with others is one of the most important parts of what I do.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

There’s a lot of misunderstanding around creativity. Many people believe you’re either born with talent or you’re not. While some may start with more natural ability than others, creativity is ultimately a skill that can be developed over time.

Like any skill, it helps to learn with guidance—whether that’s a teacher, video tutorials, or books. Once you understand the basics, it’s helpful to observe how experienced artists work. That’s often how you discover unconventional approaches. It’s also important to build a foundation in fundamentals like color theory, composition, and perspective.

I hope this encourages people to try something new—or return to something they once set aside—with a fresh perspective.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

There are so many rewarding aspects to being a creative that it’s hard to choose just one, but feeling empowered is high on my list. I feel like I can take on almost anything creative if I set my mind to it. I’ve made everything from t-shirts, rugs, bags, paints, dinnerware, candles, bath bombs, stickers, and more.

Because I’ve worked in so many mediums, I’ve not only learned different techniques—I’ve also become comfortable being a beginner. It doesn’t scare me anymore to not know what I’m doing or to fail. I’ve learned that it usually just takes me a few attempts to get the hang of something. After that, my other skills start to come into play, and I can create work I’m genuinely happy with. That confidence makes it much easier to keep trying new things.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/calieandco
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calieandco
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC5_L4kRvgeb7QN4sIi9Feg?view_as=subscriber
• Other: https://www.threads.com/@calieandco