We recently connected with Jennifer Alexander and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer , appreciate you joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?

I worked for 10 years at a production pottery business. In addition to being thrilled to do ceramics each day and opening up the idea that a career is possible in art, I also was able to learn different aspects from the business side. The most impactful of those for me was bookkeeping and accounting. If not for working there I wouldn’t have found a reason to take accounting classes and earn a bookkeeping certificate. Now that I own an art business, I find this knowledge absolutely crucial for organizing and understanding my income and expense, which influence my business decisions.

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

I’ve always been interested and excited about ceramics, and would dig up clay from my backyard when I was young. However, this medium isn’t very accessible since it requires expensive equipment and space to create. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had in high school to have access to a ceramics studio, and then later in college at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, where I took ceramics as an elective. I grew up in a practical minded family where art was viewed as a hobby, so I chose to study the sciences for a career path, but being in the ceramic studio is one of the best memories I have from my time there.

I was fortunate to find a job at an art pottery production company in Midwest Wisconsin. I began as a glazer of their pieces and eventually created some tile designs for them. Working there I learned about the Arts & Crafts movement and I found myself drawn to many of the works of art of that time period. During my years of creating tile designs for them, I developed and honed my design style. This was the first time that I was able to view art as a career option, not just a hobby. I was also able to learn about art as a business.

I decided to start my own business, Alexander Ceramics, in 2020 focusing mainly on tile but also exploring handbuilt pieces like ceramic boxes. I hand press each stoneware tile into a mold that I’ve designed and created. After I create 250 of a tile design, I destroy its mold. This allows me explore new ideas each year. My original designs are inspired by the beauty of stained glass, the wonders of nature, the timeless allure of the arts & crafts movement era, and the graceful, organic lines that flow through art nouveau. I hand paint each tile, incorporating both matte and glossy midfire glazes, to achieve a stained glass illusion and layer these glazes within my designs to create depth, richness, and unique characteristics.

There are many emotions that arise when making my art. I like to say that pottery is a labor of love, but also patience, as it takes several weeks to create a finished piece. Working with clay feels natural to me and meditative most of the time, but there are moments when it can be challenging and may require a bit of problem solving. There are many steps in the process to making a ceramic piece, which means many opportunities for something to go wrong. When opening up the kiln after the final glaze firing, I hold my breath, hoping my pieces turn out as anticipated. Most of the time I get to exhale a breath of relief, but not every time.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

As I mentioned earlier, my upbringing viewed art as something to do just for fun, not a serious pursuit. In my journey I’ve learned that art can be a career, and since starting my business, I spent a great deal of time reflecting on the importance of art in our lives and trying to deepen my understanding of it. To me, art is more than just a hobby. It creates connection to other people, expresses ideas, gives space to meditation, and captures beauty and wonder.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

It’s such an honor to have my artwork in other people’s homes. It means so much to hear from my patrons about the meaning of my piece to them or a loved one they’ve gifted it to. I’m very grateful for this and find a meaningful connection to other people through my art, by either adding beauty to someone’s life, inspiring their own creativity, or celebrating a memory with them.

Also, it’s so special, invaluable really, to be a part of a community of other artists. Connecting with other artists and sharing our creative passions with each other and the community is another aspect that I find deeply meaningful and rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.alexanderceramics.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Alexander.ceramics
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alexander.Ceramics.LLC