JESSICA PHILLIPS

How/Where do you market and sell your artwork?

"My work is currently available in Houston at Birch Modern Mercantile, Feliz Interiors, Forth & Nomad and in Brenham at Ballad of the Bird Dog. I sometimes also stock my web shop: shop.theynamedherjohn.com."

"Everything I see inspires me. Sometimes in unexpected ways. I’ve been in love with clay ever since I was a tiny kid. I finally took my first ceramics class when I was 18 and never looked back. I think there is just something about the tactile quality of clay that makes it my favorite medium. I love photography, printmaking, metal working and painting but at the end of the day I always sink my hands back into clay."

Did you come to ceramics from a different career? Tell us about your journey to a ceramics career.

"My BA is in studio art with a ceramics concentration but I transitioned to design as I neared graduation. I worked professionally as a graphic designer for over 20 years but always found a way to work with ceramics on the side. A few years ago I had the opportunity to build a home studio and since then I’ve been able to increase my production and experiment more with my work. It’s really allowed me to embrace my love of clay and to shift my focus back to it."

"I don’t like to give advice...mostly because I feel I am always still learning. But something I do share with other artists is how important it is to find the time/space for yourself and your art. Even when I can only take a moment for myself, it makes such a difference."

What’s the best advice you’ve been given by a fellow maker, mentor, or teacher?

“A mentor of mine recently gave me a wonderful piece of advice. When I start to overthink the things I’m doing or get hung up on something, she reminded me that the most important thing is to “just do the work”."