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

Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I have several jobs. Some days that feels overwhelming and that I never get a break. But I like it this way. I am never bored. Originally I was a public school art teacher, teaching 3D visual art at an art magnet school and a hobby artist on the side. I was a passionate teacher and adored my job, the students and the school in which I worked. Then my husband and I decided we wanted more flexibility and we both wanted to teach virtually, so we became virtual teachers in 2019. This is also when we created several passion projects including my artist / private teaching business. During the pandemic, I started focusing on my personal art, which is functional pottery, as the main focus of my time. As soon as I decided to label myself as an artist, I was able to cultivate the space in my mind and time in my schedule to really push this business forward. I have always been passionate about ceramics, since the age of 10, but I had never allowed myself to label myself as an “artist”. I was always a teacher first and artist second. Now, very recently I have started responding with the title of artist when asked what I “do”. This simple shift in persona has given me so much joy, contentment and ownership over my choices. I have considered going back to school, learning a new skill or trying to make myself more marketable to different up incoming career choices, but nothing has seemed like an authentic choice within my soul. I feel content in offering my art to the world and showing people how to create within the confines of my personal studio. These personal, human interactions will never go out of style. Today, more than ever, people are yearning for one on on support and opportunities to use their hands, create a piece of art and think creatively. I am so happy with my choice to stay true to my inner voice and continue in the arts.

Jennifer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a certified Art Teacher offering personalized lessons and instruction to students in the Ann Arbor area. I’ve been teaching people of all ages and experience levels since 2006 and love what I do.

I believe that arts integration as a way of life. Which is why I love exploring the world through the lens of visual arts and observation. Since starting as a K -12 licensed art teacher in 2006, I’ve been introducing students to see the world through observant and aesthetically sensitive eyes. I facilitate creative thinking and challenge students to discuss content through articulate discussions that span across content areas. I love exploring a multitude of media from drawing and painting to up-cycled sculpture and clay. I believe that the process of making is as important as the final product.

My goal is to teach students through authentic hands on experiences, while also making sure they have fun in a pressure-free, judgement-free environment. Whether you’re an experienced artist who would like some guidance or just starting out, I will come to your home and work around your schedule in order to meet the needs of you and or your family.

There is something uniquely human about making art out of clay. As one of the oldest art materials in human history, I have been drawn to the material and absolutely obsessed with it since my first pottery class at the age of 10. The feeling of fresh clay between my fingers and the endless possibilities have my brain in a constant state of wonder. I enjoy moving through all of the stages of the process like a dance that is similar but ever changing in the result. For me, the process of making is as important as the product because of the therapeutic calm that it serves my being.

I am always thinking about touch. As my work is created to be used daily and serves a specific purpose to bring joy and comfort to the task that it has been created for. How does the piece feel when held, how will the work entertain, comfort or please the user; are constant questions that spiral through my thoughts through the entire process of making. These questions, paired with the never ending possibilities of surface, keep my work in a consistent evolution that responds to motifs of social justice, objects of comfort, and culturally diverse repeated patterns.

As part of my continued exploration of the material, I use several different clay bodies that span in color from deep brown to bright white. The way that patterns and surface techniques respond to these different canvases is strikingly different and creates a different experience depending on the clay body chosen. A porcelain mug yields a delicate bright white canvas that backlights whatever glaze or color is applied onto its surface, while the deep brown clay is usually left partially unglazed for the user to interact with its naturally rich texture.

As I waiver between clay bodies and surface decoration, my work is cohesive within the themes of texture, imagery and form which provides a diverse body of work that is cohesive while each piece is individual. Each piece is thought through from foot to lip and edge to curve making sure that the experience of the user is enjoyable and specific, keeping them coming back for more.

I am a ceramic artist and educator specializing in bespoke small batch and custom pottery for the home and kitchen. I create individualized classes for students 4 years old through adult.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The act of having kids creates resilience. Being a working mother of 2 young boys has tested my creative path and also validated it. Anyone who has children knows that everything that can stop does when they are brought into this world. I told myself that having children would not change my creative process and that I would continue within my current identity’s path, but that was false. When my first son was a small baby, I was able to continue working in my studio for segments. Then life became more complicated, teaching became a full time position again and my personal creative practice took a hit. I found ways to explore different creative outlets like cooking and baking, drawing, and building small projects for my home. This satisfied me for a time, until my children were a bit older and I made a conscious effort to find myself again. When my second child became 3 years old is when I took the shift back to my studio. I consciously created a home studio where I could compartmentalize my time between family, job requirements and my artwork. I started spending nights in the studio and then I was able to carve out more and more time for myself there. My youngest is currently 4 years old, and I am finally spending a good amount of time in my space creating. My sons are also old enough to create with me in that space which is another benefit to the home studio. “Mommy, can we play with clay” Is a welcome phrase at our house.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Society can support artists by valuing art in general. Putting value on created items and local shops and artisans vs quick, mas produced items. Having a year round farmers market/ craft market where people have easy access to handmade goods. Prioritizing local makers over name brand corporate labels.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jlcpottery.com
• Instagram: @jlcpottery
• Facebook: JLCPottery

Image Credits
Jennifer Cooper