Today we’d like to introduce you to Jillia English

Hi Jillia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I am a full time ceramic artist, creating pottery by hand in my small basement studio in Williamsport, PA. Every piece is intentionally crafted for your everyday rituals. From sipping on your morning coffee, to having a small sweet treat, to lighting a yummy smelling candle.

I have been passionate about art my entire life. I fell in love with pottery in my first pottery class at Williamsport High School in 2008. Clay hasn’t left my hands since, that’s over 15 years! In 2022, I left my career as a Graphic/Web Designer and became a full-time Ceramic Artist.

I was over the design corporate world and had a dream of wanting to work for myself, create my own schedule, have more then a 2 weeks vacation, and feel like I was actually living life and not just staring at a computer in my office. I still love design but I love owning a business more!

I quit my job after being over worked and under paid for too long. I had no inventory and no clue how to run a business but dived right in with A LOT of motivation and drive. I knew hard work would pay off and leaned into it. I started putting my work into more consignment shops, I sold at my first pop up market, and started building up my online shop and following.

After almost 3 years I am able to choose what projects and collections I want to work on and what I need to say no to. I am selling more than I ever have and am mainly focused on selling collections on my websites and selling at pop up markets during the Fall and Winter Season. I take on a few custom orders here and there and sell in a few of my favorite consignment shops.

I live to create and to see my pieces being used in the wild! I am constantly creating new forms, color combinations and collections for all seasons. Bright colors, unique designs and techniques are key factors in each of my pieces… and lots of love that can be felt in every item.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

Nope! But is anyone’s life a smooth road?! I still struggle with A LOT! It took me months until I was starting to make money. It took me years to figure out which avenues of business worked for me, consignment shops, wholesaling or selling it myself. It took me a lot of time to find MY PEOPLE. I am still finding my following but am so happy with the returning customers I have now! They blow me away with their support and love for my work. I am only 3 years into being a full time ceramic artist/small business owner and I still am learning a lot. I struggle today with work/life balance, managing all my work on my own, and trying to work multiple day pop up events alone that are far from home.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I create handmade pottery. I am primarily focused on wheel throwing, using my own two hards to create every single piece. No molds, slip casting, slab rollers, or extruders are used in my studio. Every piece is unique and lots of love can be felt in every item. Every mug has a different handle, holds a different amount of liquid, and are individual pieces of art.

Every piece of pottery I make is crafted to be used and loved in your everyday life. From mugs for your coffee, to plates for you to eat your meals off of, and different kitchen items for cooking such as herb graters and strippers.

I am constantly creating new forms, color combinations and collections for all seasons. Bright colors, unique designs and techniques are key factors in each of my pieces.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?

I can collaborate with others by creating custom logo mugs, or creating a collaborative collection together. I recently created mugs for a tattoo artist, and did a collab collection with an earring artist selling mugs that matched her earrings! I love to meet new artists and am open to collaborative suggestions!

You can support me by following my social media and shopping my work on my website!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jilliaceramics.com
• Instagram: @jillia.ceramics
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillia.ceramics/