Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenn Cooper.
Hi Jenn , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I honestly can’t remember a time when clay wasn’t part of my life. I started taking pottery classes when I was ten years old, and I was immediately hooked. There was something about taking a lump of clay and turning it into something useful that just made sense to me. That curiosity never really went away. I continued studying ceramics through high school, earned my BFA in Ceramic Art from Alfred University, completed a teaching residency at Busan National University of Education in South Korea, and later earned my master’s degree from the University of Colorado. Every experience added another layer to the way I think about making and teaching.
JLC Pottery grew out of a desire to make work that people could actually live with every day. I love the idea that a favorite mug or serving bowl can become part of someone’s daily rituals and family memories. My work combines functional pottery with hand-drawn patterns inspired by Scandinavian folk art, nature, and themes of resilience, community, and social justice. Every piece is made by hand, and I still get excited seeing the finished work come out of the kiln.
Today my life is a balance of being an artist, educator, entrepreneur, and mom to two kids. Those roles constantly influence one another. Teaching has made me a better maker, and making has made me a better teacher. In recent years I’ve also spent time building community art projects, teaching ceramics to children and adults, and even creating pottery from a porch studio while living by the ocean in Nicaragua. Looking back, the path hasn’t always been straightforward, but every twist has reinforced why I do this. I believe handmade objects have the power to slow us down, connect us to one another, and remind us that the things we use every day can also be meaningful works of art.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like a lot of artists, I’ve had moments where I questioned whether I could really make a living doing what I love. One of the biggest challenges has been balancing my work as an artist while raising two kids. Becoming a mom changed the way I worked, but it didn’t change why I create. There were seasons when my studio had to take a back seat because my family needed me more, and learning to embrace those shifts instead of fighting them has been one of my greatest lessons.
I’ve also realized that being an artist is about much more than making beautiful pottery. You have to become a photographer, marketer, accountant, website designer, social media manager, and business owner all at the same time. Those skills didn’t come naturally to me, but they’ve become just as important as what happens at the pottery wheel. Success hasn’t come from one big moment. It’s come from showing up consistently, making thousands of pieces, learning from failures, and continuing to grow.
There have been plenty of disappointments along the way, from pieces cracking in the kiln to slow sales, burnout, and wondering if I should take a different path. But every challenge has made me more resilient. Raising two children while building a creative business has taught me to be flexible, persistent, and patient with myself. Looking back, I’m grateful I kept going through the difficult seasons because they shaped not only the artist I am today, but the person I am as well.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’d say I specialize in creating functional pottery that people actually use and love every day. Every mug, bowl, platter, or serving piece is made by hand in my studio and designed to become part of someone’s daily rituals. My work is heavily influenced by Scandinavian folk art, nature, and storytelling. I work primarily in deep brown terracotta with layers of porcelain slip, carving and decorating each piece by hand using techniques I’ve developed over many years. I love creating work that feels both timeless and contemporary while also reflecting themes of resilience, community, and social justice.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the pottery itself—it’s the life I’ve built around it. I’ve been working with clay since I was ten years old, and after decades of making, teaching, and raising two children, I’m still just as excited to walk into my studio each day. I’m proud that I’ve stayed true to my voice instead of chasing trends, and that I’ve been able to share my love of ceramics with thousands of students through teaching. Building a creative career while being a mom has required persistence, flexibility, and a lot of determination, and I’m proud that my children have grown up watching what it looks like to pursue meaningful work.
I think what sets me apart is that I don’t see pottery as simply making objects. I see it as building connections. Whether I’m teaching a child how to shape clay for the first time, creating a handmade mug that becomes someone’s favorite morning companion, or leading a community art project, my goal is always the same: to create work that brings people together. Every piece is genuinely handmade, every surface is thoughtfully designed, and every collection reflects years of experience, curiosity, and craftsmanship. I want people to feel the care that went into making each piece long before they ever take their first sip of coffee or share a meal with family.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have people who believed in me at different stages of my journey. My parents encouraged my creativity from a young age and made it possible for me to start taking pottery classes when I was just ten years old. Looking back, that early support changed the course of my life. I’ve also had wonderful professors, fellow artists, and mentors who challenged me to push my work further and taught me that being an artist is about curiosity and lifelong learning, not just technical skill.
My husband has been one of my biggest supporters. Building a creative business while raising two children isn’t something I could have done alone. He’s encouraged me through the uncertainty, celebrated the successes, and stepped in countless times so I could teach, make pottery, travel for exhibitions, or simply spend uninterrupted time in the studio. My kids have also been an unexpected source of inspiration. They’ve reminded me to stay playful, curious, and open to experimentation, qualities that have made me a better artist and teacher.
I’m also deeply grateful for the people who choose to bring my work into their homes. Every customer who purchases a mug, every student who signs up for a class, every gallery that represents my work, and every organization that invites me to teach or create community art projects has played a role in helping JLC Pottery grow. Being an artist can feel solitary at times, but the truth is this career has been built through relationships. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the encouragement, trust, and generosity of the community that’s grown around my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.jlcpottery.com
- Instagram: JLCpottery
- Facebook: JLCPotter
