Janneke de Jong runs Studio Janneke, a one-person collective making small collections of feel-good ceramics, handmade, one-offs and limited runs. Below are some of the recurring core ideas and values I explore within my practice and work.

BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN

An ongoing exploration of acceptance. Part of a wider discovery of 'wabi sabi', the Japanese aesthetic of accepting imperfections and transience. Finding beauty in variation, nurturing a belief that things can be more beautiful for having been broken.

LEAVING A MARK

Exploring the significance of marks – whether they are left by time, by accident or on purpose.

THE VALUE OF VULNERABILITY

A conscious effort to be vulnerable, to remain soft whilst finding my way around confidence, acceptance, self-image and what it means to be an artist, a female, a human being.

PERMISSION TO PLAY

Creating a playground for discovery. Allowing time and space for being a beginner, making mistakes and learning to be okay with whatever happens.

SLOW FOCUS

Purposefully slowing down and doing things 'the hard way'. Learning to enjoy the process and appreciating the time it takes - without focusing on the result. The more conscious time is spent on something, the more sustainable value it has.