About

I saw my first potter working on a wheel when I was 10 years old in Corning, NY. I was so mesmerized by it that the image stayed with me. Seven years later, as a senior in High School I noticed two pottery wheels tucked away in the back of the art studio. No one in the department knew how to use them but I was determined to use what I remembered from years before and try it. I am thankful that the head instructor of the art department trusted me to sit alone after school and work. 

My first attempts at throwing were disastrous. I started with a lump of clay the size of my head and ended up with nothing for weeks. Finally, after ending up with nothing and about to give up I created a tiny thumb sized mess of a vase that I deemed a success, and I was hooked. Creating something from nothing was magical. By the end of the school year my work was displayed in a large case in front of the main office. 

After High School graduation while traveling in Hawaii, I met a self-taught potter and his talented wife who own a beautiful art gallery. In this serendipitous meeting, I was able to finally learn from a crafter that spoke my language and solidified the path on my self-taught journey. It has always been about the feel of the clay and the organic development of each piece, not about a particular way to hold my hands or a specific angle or measurement. It was on this trip that I created my first large vase.

I was accepted into the Fine Art Department at SUNY New Paltz where I furthered my studies. It was my first experience in a traditional class setting. I am very grateful for a special Adjunct Professor, Mike S., for encouraging me to create with my own style of throwing and challenging me to push clay beyond my comfort zone.  

After decades of working as a potter and loads of experiments, I have perfected my distinct, 4-color clay technique, inspiring the "Jupiter Collection.” This unique collection is named for the color and pattern the marbled clay makes, and it has become my most collected body of work.

Without the technical background of a conventionally trained potter, I never learned what I ‘shouldn't do’. This has always allowed me to create without restrictions. — Nicole Jurain