Jedda Clay began her journey with clay with a need to create. After running a business in a small office and confined to the four walls every day, Jedda felt the need to expand beyond this, which inevitably lead her back to the core of our natural environment, earth. Each day, Jedda builds with the earth from her home studio on the Sunshine Coast, creating with a hand coiling process and experimenting with the age-old practice of wheel throwing. Each and every work from Jedda Clay is unique and hand-made with love, to bring the earth back into our homes.
Tell us a bit about what a day may look like for you as an artist. Where are you based and what are some of the things that you do in your daily routine? Tell us about your morning rituals, your cup of tea/coffee, plants, etc!
A day in a life for me is usually waking up around 6am, washing my face and then making a cup of tea. I usually go to a HITT Pilates class in the morning, then after that, I'll jump into the ocean. On my way home I'll pop into ‘Clay Noosa’ and either pick up a load from the kiln or put a load on. After all of this, I finally get into my work. I usually start off with replying to emails and packing any orders I have for that day. When I hand build, I work from my balcony, so I'm usually on the balcony for most of the day, being able to enjoy the day while working. I always listen to music and when I'm feeling a bit lazy, I'll watch Netflix hehe. Halfway through the day I'll pop onto the wheel which is underneath my balcony. I like doing this to break up my day. I'll usually finish work around 4-5pm, when I'll start cooking dinner, have a shower and recline on the couch for the rest of the night.
How did you start your creative practice and why? Are you self-taught, an art student, a full-time artist, etc?
I started doing clay a couple of years ago with some friends at their homes. I ended up absolutely loving it and pursued it on my own. I am self-taught with all my creative outlets, including pottery. I always find YouTube gives you so many great tools and knowledge for any interest you might have at that moment in your life.
Have you got a studio/creative workplace? Tell us a bit about where you create and some of the significant things that support and inspire your practice.
At the moment I've set up my studio on my balcony. I love the feeling of being outside while creating, it makes work feel so easy. Although, I am in desperate need of a studio space, as I'm starting to take over the whole house with my ceramics!
What are some of the ideas that you explore in your work and the mediums that you have chosen to work with?
I enjoy movements of curves and flow within nature, which is explored through my ceramics. I like to create with my favourite white raku clay and a dark stoneware, although every now and then I'll buy a new clay body and if I like it, then I'll work with that a bit more. At the moment I buy ready-made glazes but as soon as I have more time, I'm going to start experimenting with the making of glazes, as this is more unique, affordable and a time saver.
In an increasingly digitized world, how important is your online presence? And what are some of the things that you consider when marketing your work?
I think we are so lucky that we have social media to share our creative outlet to the world and to bring the creative community closer. I like to keep into consideration authenticity and personality, being aligned to my identity, as at the end of the day my work is an expression of my own creativity.
Let us know about any current/future projects – Have you got anything planned in the near future?
Once this crazy year has finished and I have more time on my hands, I'd like to start using more colours, create new shapes and focus on getting more stock for my website. I’d also possibly like to even do glass ware… but who knows where I'll be and what I'll be doing in the near future!
Visit our Stockroom to view our collection of works by Jedda Clay.