Jillatay at Etsy, Seriously Whimsical

Welcome!
I am a 25 year veteran of ceramic arts and still driven daily to create things different and fun. I try to be a production artist but can't seem to stop having new ideas that I can't wait to try. My themes are Seriously Whimsical, many have a deep or meaningful subject but with a wink of humor that hopefully brings joy and laughter to your heart.

I have 2 studios, one in California the other near Seattle. Nothing is sent out nor contracted with outside parties. My dear spouse, Doug, collaborates with me on a regular basis and is an artist in his own right but he thinks of himself as my assistant. This is a one woman sweat shop and will remain so, done out of love for the craft and as an excuse to create on a daily basis.

When in college, working toward a math and science degree, I decided one semester to "play in the mud" and take a pottery class just to relax and have fun, some easy elective credits. My life changed! Like many pottery people before me, I became obsessed with clay and remain so. There is still so much to learn.

The challenge of mud is how it teaches me to collaborate with nature, to invite nature into the process. Inherently malleable and forgiving; there is almost nothing you can't do with clay, and almost no mistake that can't be remedied. However, firing in the kiln is another story. It has been called taming the dragon, but we must release our control and let the serendipity happen. All potters feel the same, when opening the kiln; we like to say, "It's Christmas!" It will always be somewhat unpredictable. Sometimes a disaster! Surprise is part of the package.

Most of my work starts out hand sculpted or from a slab and a few pieces involve a pottery wheel. Porcelain is my favorite ceramic medium, because of its translucency. It almost feels alive. Other clays are easier to work, but I love my porcelain!

With the exception of the mugs with decals (some are new, some up-cycled) everything in my shop is made with raw clay, glazes and hand tools.

Proud member of the Etsy Mud Team.
http://www.etsy.com/teams/6382/etsy-mud-team-emt
http://etsymudteam.craft-sense.com
http://www.jillatay.com is my website.
I'm also jillatay on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/Jillatay

About Doug: Encouraged by me to make some things in clay, he too now knows the wonderful feeling of having his work admired and purchased. Doug likes to make little boats and buildings. He also contributes a lot of ideas, carves designs on some of my pottery, helps with glazing the pottery and last but not least he is my all around handyman; I don't know what I would do without him. Doug has been a boat designer and enthusiast since childhood. In his own words, "I'm a retired civil service person who’s been in love with an artist for 33 years. I have been a sailor and boat builder since very young and my studio interests often lean towards the aesthetics of boats and marine themes. It is interesting, however, how some of our collaborations have taken off into directions neither of us would have anticipated."

Like me, he loves animals, we live with Petey the dog, a cat and two parrots, they each think of themselves as the boss around here.