Truly Down to Earth

You can just tell when someone is content with what they do. I was so swept up in Janette’s history with ceramics, we must have chatted for well over an hour during our first call. We’d never spoken before. All I knew was that Janette was the creator of beautifully unique, rustic ceramic vessels and homewares. 

Her story sounded like an adventure novel. One all about forging your own path, ditching the mould (quite literally), and breaking away from popular trends to create something pure. Since her teenage years she’d alway had an affinity with clay. She loved its earthiness and tactility. The process of creating on the wheel was what she found the most satisfying. So, after years of working in an office and a formal stint in the ceramics industry, Janette decided to pursue her long time passion with clay to create pieces that let the clay speak for itself. And she’s never looked back!

The thing I love most about Janette’s work is the simplistic and organic shapes she creates using a classic wheel thrown technique. No two pieces are the same, they’re all perfectly imperfect and unique. Her use of gritty clays impart a rustic, earthiness while the use of soft, neutral glazes ensure her work fits beautifully into both a modern or classic country style home setting.

Shop Janette's Ceramics

Coffee with Janette

• What inspires you the most?
  Talented people inspire me. I'm in awe at the number of amazing artisans in the world. Their skills in their trade are phenomenal. Whether it be ceramics, drawing, painting, metal work, wood work, sculpture, interior design, photography. Looking at their work is inspirational and inspires me to keep working on my own creations. I'm always striving to be better at my craft.
  
  
• What motivated you to pursue your own ceramics studio?
  Becoming a full time potter was not intentional. I worked in the banking industry for many years and pottery was my hobby during that time. I have always had an affinity for all types of art but it was the earthiness and tactility of ceramics that captured my heart. After having my family I left my office job and furthered my ceramic knowledge by attending college. It was then that I made the decision to pursue my passion for pottery and focus on ceramics as my next career path. I purchased a wheel and 2 gas kilns, developed a range and began selling at markets. That was in the mid 90’s and I'm still getting my hands dirty creating with clay and loving it.
  
  
• Favourite recipe and why?
  My favourite recipe is chicken and tomato fettuccine. It’s my mother’s recipe and it has always been my long time favourite. Every birthday mum would ask me what special meal I would like cooked and this would always be my choice. I just loved the flavours and textures.
  
  
• Favourite band and first memory of them?
  My favourite is Sade. Well I guess it’s not a band but I prefer soloists. I love her smooth voice and laid back jazz style. Smooth Operator is my all time favourite song, when I first heard it I had to go and buy the album. I actually went and saw her perform live in Brisbane in the 80’s. To this day I listen to Sade when I'm sitting at the wheel. I never get tired of listening to her music.
  
  
• Favourite room in your house?
  My favourite room would be the master bedroom. This room has large glass doors opening out to the garden. I love bringing the outdoors in. It creates a peaceful ambiance for me and in winter the sun streams in which is a beautiful bonus. My décor is all neutral with a touch of steel grey. Bedrooms should be calming and I think this one ticks the box.
  
  
• What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
  I think that this is my own advice that I have learnt along the way and that is to go with your gut feeling and ask questions. Once I would go along with the advice of others, now I don’t. In hindsight, I wish I'd had the courage and intuition to follow these words when I was young and a bit naive. I guess maturity makes us older and wiser!