Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jen Allen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

In the summer of 2019, my work quickly shifted from wheel-thrown, porcelain to slab-built, iron-rich, stoneware pottery. My audience was used to the porcelain work as I had produced it for over 13 years. Galleries across the US were representing it and patrons were expecting to see more of it. Universities, craft schools, and community studios were hiring me for workshops. I published videos and presented my work/processes during national conferences. It had gained global recognition.

But, as any creative person can relate, I started getting bored with the work I was making. I began feeling that I was just going through the motions instead of taking bold risks (something I constantly ask of my students). My learning curve flattened. I would purposefully introduce a new stamp, a new color, a new form, etc, into each kiln load, but nothing was feeding my creative spirit anymore. The passion was gone.

Fast forward to spring 2020. I had just presented my new stoneware work at the Alabama Clay Conference in February, participated in the Southern Crossings Pottery Festival in early March, and was gearing up for the NCECA Conference mid -March with a carload full of new pots. Unfortunately, the national conference was cancelled and therefore only a small sliver of the population had seen this new work in person. Compelled to reach more of my audience, I offered a free zoom lecture that focused on why I made the shift from porcelain to stoneware.

The audience was receptive. I undoubtedly lost some followers but I definitely gained far more than I lost. Some people commented that my bravery was inspirational and admired the fact that I was not afraid to change my work at the height of its success. More importantly, many could relate to my feelings of boredom, lack of passion, and the anxiety of taking a big risk. While the new direction in my work was alarming, it provided new found excitement and curiosity. I finally felt my creativity percolating.

Jen, 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?

My mother introduced me to the handcrafts as a child. Her hands were always busy knitting, crocheting, sewing, weaving baskets, etc. She taught me how to sew at an early age and by my early teens I was making all my own clothes, purses, curtains, pillows, and quilt tops. I discovered clay in 1995 during undergraduate school. I was an elementary ed major and was taking elective drawing classes. I quickly realized that all the fun was happening in the ceramics classroom (down the hall from the drawing studio). I instantly switched my major to art and never looked back. I focused on clay for 7 years at the University of Alaska Anchorage and graduated in 2002 with a BFA in ceramics. While pursuing my BFA, I worked for a wholesale, production potter, Kris Bliss. Kris taught me the business side of ceramics, wholesale/retail, production processes, efficiency of time, building customer/gallery relationships, etc. The combination of an academic education alongside a ceramics related job helped set me on a path to a career in clay and teaching.

Now, pattern (template) making for slab-built pottery is a new found passion. Using the same strategies as paper patterns for fabric garments, I create two-dimensional shapes out of clay slabs that fold and attach into three-dimensional, pottery forms. Teaching and sharing my knowledge online as others have generously done for me over the years is a way for me to connect with and grow the clay community. My approach to teaching is to lead with visual instruction. My style is casual but informative, I encourage risk taking in order to open oneself up to infinite possibilities. I offer online and in-person workshops, downloadable pattern video recordings, a series of pottery patterns so patrons can create their own pottery form with templates and guided instruction. I want people to feel inspired and ready to jump back into their own creative practice with new found passion and purpose. At the core, I want my teaching and my ceramics to instill joy.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I am currently a part of an entrepreneurial cohort group and am learning all about things I am terrible with (which is everything to do with running a business, ha!) We are meeting with business coaches, creative coaches, marketing professionals, etc. I wish I was exposed to all of this earlier, perhaps as an elective in art school (a business model geared towards artist and creatives), but am happy to now have the opportunity to do it with a peer group.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I am currently in the middle of a big turning point. My husband just lost his tenured Ceramics teaching job after 18 years of service due to an unprecedented academic transformation at WVU (West Virginia University). He was one of 143 faculty to be part of their “reduction in force”(RIF). Six years ago we bought our “forever home” here in West Virginia. The property came complete with a dream studio. Unfortunately, we will be listing our property in the near future and will have to set up a new home and studio and life somewhere else. Our kids are both travel hockey players and our daughter’s practice rink is currently 1.5 hours north. I am spending a lot more time in the car and on the computer. I purchased an iPad and have been drawing a lot in it. It has helped me feel creative when I’m back and forth to rinks. I am illustrating handouts that will eventually become a book. I am finding more time to develop my pottery patterns and organize them in a way that’s approachable and marketable. I am video editing. While this is all taking me away from my clay studio, I feel like I’m not missing out as much. And, honesty, I realize I may be without a studio for a little while and am finding other outlets that brings me joy and feeds my curiosity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jenniferallenceramics.com
• Instagram: @jenallenceramics
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jenallenceramics/
• Youtube: jenallenceramics

Image Credits

BridgePerspective