ABOUT
J CERAMICS
Who is J Ceramics?
I am Jolene Randall. I was born and raised in the Southwest, surrounded by desert colors, wide open sky, and dry heat. I moved to Portland over 30 years ago, and then to Astoria in 2003. My desire to create has been with me my whole life. From grade school crafts, to working as a graphic designer, my heart has always been drawn to artistic endeavors.
My graphic design career began in Portland, OR collaborating on designs for Adidas, Columbia Sportswear, and The Boston Marathon. I continued working on projects and freelancing with my husband over the next decade. I have utilized a variety of mediums in my continuing exploration and production of art. My current artistic outlet is creating original handcrafted ceramic jewelry and home accents. I believe we are all born creators, we just need to find our individual path to discover the creative potential within us.
Small Things
___
Small things matter. Little things make a big difference. It's the little bits of life that make the big picture worthwhile. Small and simple things can have a great effect. If my art had a voice it would say: "Look at me! See me! Come closer! We are intriguing! We are all different shapes and sizes and colors with amazing details. Inside we are all made out of the same thing. Isn't it inspiring? Each piece of clay has the potential to become something uniquely wonderful. We are beautiful. Look at us. Hear out story."
MOVE TO ASTORIA
After having twins and then another beautiful boy, we moved from the bustle of Portland, OR to the small coastal town of Astoria. Andrew transitioned from graphic design into law enforcement, and began working for the Astoria Police Department. Our family expanded with the addition of our final child, and although the days seemed long, the years flew by.
ART WITH FAMILY
This was when my artistic ventures began to involve my kids. As a stay at home mom, I enjoyed sharing my love of art with them. From at home crafts to complex artistic school projects, my kids always had my encouragement and support in their creative ventures. Throughout all four of my childrens' time in school I was continually involved volunteering at their schools, and in the last 5 years I have been working full time for the Astoria School District.
DISCOVERING CERAMICS
I never envisioned having my own ceramics business! I began visiting the Seaside Community Center pottery studio at the end of summer 2021 as a way to get out of the house and do something fun with my kids.
I instantly fell in love with the process, as pottery was a perfect way of exploring and expressing my artistic visions. I have been experimenting with different textures, shapes, colors, and glazes. These are all things that excite me about being able to work with ceramics--the possibilities
are limitless!