ABOUT
The River Ceramics Story
HI THERE!
I’m Jolene, Designer Maker for River Ceramics
I have loved clay and its creative potential since doing my first beginners’ class back in 2018.
As much as I enjoyed my career as a building designer, I felt a need to change paths once my youngest child started school.
Hushing the voice of mother guilt, spending guilt and unproductive-time-guilt, I enrolled in my first ceramics class. By the second week I was wondering if I could make this my day job; it was all I wanted to do!
The obsession had begun, and I feel so grateful to have had support from a growing circle of supporters since that time.
PLACE
I work from the beautiful coastal town of Margaret River, in remote Western Australia. Our region is famous for amazing wine and surf, though for me it is the beautiful people, the forests and the river which really make this my home.
I am very lucky to now have my own studio, with a view to the trees and enough room for my mess.
INFLUENCES
Coming from over a decade of working in the architectural industry, there is a strong urge to incorporate both functionality and a beautiful aesthetic in my ceramics. A large body of my work remains functional, with the idea that beautiful, textural pieces can enhance everyday moments through great design.
With natural elements as the primary influence on my work, I love to reflect this through patterns, light and form. Working onto larger formats such as wall art gives an opportunity to be more intricate, and play with complex layered effects.
My sculptural work is always evolving, and to date has both extended on concepts developed in my functional art, and also become a tender, whimsical theme in and of itself. 2023 saw a deep dive into characters reminiscent of a folk tale, with woodland creatures caught in a storybook narrative.
METHODS
My work in the studio is explorative, diverse and playful. Using natural and wild clay slips, underglaze and glazes in a variety of ways, many interesting collections emerge from season to season.
The Sgraffito technique has certainly been the key method that I have specialized in. Being self-taught has allowed me to develop a unique method, with many losses and enough wins to keep me refining a unique process and style.
TEACHING
Sharing this learning of both technique and approach to creative practice has now become a strong focus of my work. I have loved running local workshops and courses over the years, with the privilege of observing many students go from being quiet and nervous, to becoming confident and excited participants in ceramics.
To extend this experience to a worldwide audience, I am thrilled to offer a range of comprehensive courses online, with the same warm and inviting approach.
EXHIBITIONS & GALLERIES
A range of Sculptural work from both my ‘Into the Woods’ Creature collection, and non-functional Vessels are currently available at Yallingup Galleries
Most Years I participate in the incredible ‘Margaret River Region Open Studio’s’ Event https://mrropenstudios.com.au/ which is open for 2 ½ weeks, and presents an amazing opportunity to see a large body of curated work and to go behind the scenes. Please join the mail list if you would like updates on my participation and venue.
AWARDS AND FEATURES
Winner ‘Margaret River Art Prize’ in 2022 with Framed Wall Art ‘Karri’
Written for ‘The Journal of Australian Ceramics’ Vol 61 | Nov 2022
Featured ‘Peppermint Magazine’ Issue 55 | Spring 2022
Written for ‘In Her Studio’ Volume 3| Issue 3 | April 2021
Featured ‘We are Makers’ | First Edition