—Arshia Simkin, The Underline
Many people sought new hobbies during the pandemic, whether it was the ubiquitous sourdough starter or getting into gardening. Jess Sanford, a local teacher, potter, and ceramic artist who makes jewelry, and who has decades of experience in clay making, also noticed how many people were drawn to pottery at that time.
“A lot of people—especially during the pandemic—were kind of just winging it. It was wild out there,” Sandford said. Noting that ceramics can often require specialized tools and that many people don’t have access to a nearby ceramic studio, Sandford used her art education background and went on the mission to teach pottery over the internet. She offered free classes and monthly challenges; soon, a robust online community—“Clay Together”—formed. Now, Sanford offers a low-cost subscription service that allows for access to these classes, monthly challenges, and pottery community, designed for everyone from beginners to more advanced potters.
Sanford was initially drawn to pottery in high school: “I mostly just wanted to hang out with my friends and pottery class was so fun for that,” she said. She majored in art in college and continued taking ceramics classes throughout. “It’s easy to fall in love with the wheel,” she said.
For Sanford, teaching is not just a way to share what she knows, but a means of sharpening her own skills and knowledge base. As an example, she noted that she doesn’t necessarily spend her free time “making nesting bowls” but if she was going to teach students how to make them, she would do research on the subject, practice making them, and refine her technique so that she could give the best instruction possible.
Her advice to students—especially beginners—is: “Progress isn’t linear.” She urges her students to remember that putting in the time to build skills is essential. “You’re going to have really good days and you’re going to see these big jumps in skill and the next day you’ll be like ‘do I even know how to center?’” she said.
Sanford finds her artistic inspiration in both design and aesthetics: “I’m always trying to get to a better form—a better cup, a better pitcher. Does it pour right? For me, the challenge of functionality is inspiring. Visually I, of course, love nature, and pattern design, and I’m looking at historical pots and a lot of time, textiles from history,” she said.
In addition to online classes, Sanford offers in person classes through Claymakers, a local pottery organization in Durham; Sanford is also a board member of Claymakers. “I believe wholeheartedly in ceramic art education,” Sandford said. She also has a studio at the Eno Arts Mill.
Sanford’s other artistic calling is ceramic jewelry, including pendants, earrings, and necklaces, that feature colorful, mid-century-inspired patterns, which she sells online and locally through October Forever. For Sanford, the joy is in the details: she mixes all of her own glazes and uses underglazes. “I also put gold [luster] on them—it’s a third firing…I like to make life complicated,” she said with a laugh.
Sanford values the art of craft-making, which she says can be easy to dismiss: “I feel like when a lot of people they think of art, they think of painting and drawing…You can trick yourself when you’re in the crafts into thinking you’re not an artist, you’re just learning, like, technical skills.” But, she noted, “There are so many different ways to work with clay—on the wheel and off the wheel—so there are endless possibilities of exploration…There’s always something to learn, I think.”
Learn more about Jess Sanford’s art and classes at jessiccasandford.com or on Instagram @claywithjess; find her ceramic jewelry at https://www.octoberforever.com/; find her work locally through the Durham Craft Market, the Eno River Farmer’s Market, through the Hillsborough Art Council and the Peel Art Gallery. Visit her studio during a First Fridays at the Eno Arts Mill.
