We recently connected with Jessica VanNess and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Our mission is to provide a nourishing and empowering sanctuary for women to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, healing, and creativity through an ancient wild clay ceramics process, combined with mindfulness and personal growth practices. Drawing from my own profound healing journey and lifelong connection to clay, we offer a unique program that goes beyond traditional healing modalities, allowing participants to experience an embodied transformation and transmutation through the act of creating with foraged wild clay. Our vision is to create a space and process for women to reconnect with their authentic selves, unleash their limitless power to create the life they desire, and foster a community of growth, healing, and self-empowerment.

Our mission is the result of my own personal growth journey and connection to clay. Raised in a household with pervasive alcoholism, and multiple disordered family members, life was rife with physical, mental, and emotional abuse. Clay was my only respite from the chaos.

Around 6 years ago, after a series of traumatic events and finding myself contemplating suicide, I decided to dive deep into a journey of self-discovery and healing. Over several years I dedicated myself to exploring healing modalities EMDR therapy, reading, meditating, exercise, healthy diet, life coaching, and more. Even with my dedication to the work I felt haunted by the traumas of my life. That was until I embarked on a solo trip to Utah to learn wild clay techniques from a primitive potter. As I worked the ceramics process the concepts and practices I had been mentally wrangling to understand and integrate shifted. With each step, I felt the concepts shift from my head to my heart and soul, as if the clay was the embodiment of my traumas and I was physically transmuting and healing through the process.

The therapeutic concepts and exercises, the philosophies, the spiritual ideas, and the healing modalities all began to align with each of the steps in this ancient ceramic process and I realized the immense healing power available in creating with wild clay.

I knew I needed to share this process and what I had experienced with as many people as possible.

Jessica, 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?

I’m a multidisciplinary creative with a background in landscape architecture, film, metal sculpting, software design & ceramics. While my work spans a variety of media my perspective has always been centered around embracing the process. I see creating as a vehicle for self-discovery and growth.

In both my creative pursuits and my life I’m drawn to questioning, testing, and exploring. I’ve moved so much I’ve lost count, spent almost 2 years backpacking around the world, and dropped out of high school / moved out of my parent’s house when I was 16.

I believe my life experiences have allowed me to see the possibilities of combining things in interesting ways, which led me to consider the benefits of weaving together personal growth and ceramics.

I can vividly remember when I first felt the power of ceramics ~8. My childhood was wrought with distrust, abuse, & trauma and the clay spoke to me in a way I hadn’t felt before…it just existed as it was, with no pretext, no conditions; what I gave to the clay it reflected back to me honestly, mirroring my actions. It felt simultaneously predictable, wild, & limitless.

Over the years ceramics has been a grounding element for me, but it wasn’t until after a series of traumatic events, that I recognized the healing power of wild clay ceramics and how that related to my own personal growth. I created process ceramics to share the process.

As time has passed this vision of sharing the process has evolved into retreat experiences which I see as a recognition and celebration of the powerful healing elements of working with clay alongside a community of authentic, empowering, supportive women.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I have gained a tremendous amount of inspiration and clarity related to my business as well as in my personal, professional, and creative life through the teachings of Joseph Rodrigues.

[ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCcf9ezDoQOuY0mrDyVyRBA ]

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Prior to starting Process Ceramics, I had worked for many years as an art director at advertising and marketing agencies. When I created Process Ceramics I leveraged that knowledge and my skills to create more traditional marketing channels like a website, flyers, community partnerships, etc. But, to my surprise, the majority (98%+) of retreat participants found me through my Instagram account.     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.processceramics.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/process.ceramics/

Image Credits
Riley Reed (black and white pot, black dress) Tania Espinosa (all other photos)