We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jo Clarke a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

If I could go back in time, I do sometimes wish I had started my creative career sooner. I went to art school, and after completing my foundation course, I had my heart set on becoming a ceramic artist. However, I was advised that ceramics wasn’t a practical way to make a living, so I shifted gears and pursued a degree in Graphic Design instead.

That path led to a rewarding career, giving me the opportunity to travel the world and work with leading branding agencies. While graphic design provided a creative outlet, it didn’t fully satisfy my need for hands-on, physical creativity. Looking back, if I could do it over, I might have chosen a career in product design—something that merges creativity with the tactile satisfaction of creating physical objects.

I’m grateful that I rediscovered ceramic art later in life, though I do wish I had found my way back to it sooner. Life, with its mix of career demands and family responsibilities, took up most of my time. Interestingly, it was a college friend who rekindled my interest in ceramics, and their enthusiasm inspired me to dive back in.

Ultimately, I wouldn’t change everything. My experiences in graphic design gave me valuable skills, a global perspective, and a wealth of inspiration that now informs my ceramic work. But knowing the joy and fulfillment I find in ceramics today, I sometimes wonder how different my journey would have been if I’d followed that passion from the start.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

For those who don’t know me, my journey is rooted in creativity and a passion for design. I started in the arts with a foundation course in college, where I developed a love for ceramics. However, life took me on a detour into Graphic Design, earning a degree that led to a 25+ year career working with leading branding agencies across Europe, Asia, and North America. This career gave me a wealth of experience in visual storytelling, an eye for design, and the opportunity to travel the world.

A few years ago, I rediscovered ceramics, and it felt like coming home. Today, I’m a ceramic artist based in Mill Valley, CA, creating modern, evocative pieces that combine simple forms, clean lines, and compelling color palettes. My work is deeply influenced by my graphic design background, as well as my love for fine art and storytelling. Whether I’m hand-building or throwing on the wheel, I strive to create pieces that are both functional and beautiful, sparking thought and conversation.

What sets my work apart is the blend of design sensibility and craftsmanship. I see ceramics as a way to explore shape, color, and texture while creating objects that add meaning and beauty to everyday life. My clients often say they’re drawn to the thoughtful simplicity of my designs and the sense of connection they feel to my pieces.

I’m most proud of the journey that has brought me here—combining a global design career with a return to the tactile, creative process of working with clay. I want people to know that my work is not just about creating objects but about telling stories and making meaningful connections through design and art.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

At the heart of my creative journey is a desire to continuously explore and push the boundaries of my creativity. My goal is to tell stories through my work—stories that evoke conversation, inspire thought and create meaningful connections with those who encounter my art.

I’m driven by a mission to cultivate an audience that values my work and feels a personal connection to it. I want people to see ceramics not just as functional objects but as valuable pieces of art—worthy of the same appreciation as a painting. Through my designs, I aim to showcase the beauty, versatility, and emotional depth that ceramics can convey.

Ultimately, I aim to make ceramics a cherished part of people’s lives, inspiring them to look at these pieces as investments in art that enrich their daily experiences and surroundings.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to bring ideas to life and create something tangible that didn’t exist before. There’s a deep sense of fulfillment in shaping raw materials into meaningful pieces that can inspire, evoke emotions, or bring joy to others.

Working with clay, in particular, is incredibly special. There’s something profoundly grounding about using my hands to transform a simple block of clay into a piece with purpose and beauty. The tactile nature of the process connects me to the material in a way that feels both creative and deeply human.

I also love the challenge of taking a 2D concept—often rooted in my background in graphic design—and translating it into a physical, tactile form. The process of experimenting with shapes, textures, and colors to bring a vision to life is endlessly exciting and rewarding.

Above all, I treasure the connection my work fosters with people. Hearing someone say that a piece resonated with them is incredibly gratifying. Knowing that my art can spark conversations, create memories, or add beauty to someone’s everyday life is a joy that inspires me.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: joclarkeceramics
• Linkedin: joclarkesf