Jordan Blankenship never imagined that she would have a career creating objects that are both aesthetically pleasing and utilitarian. In fact, while the Florida native grew up dabbling in creative pursuits, she never envisioned a professional career in the arts.
“I didn’t find ceramics until my freshman year in college,” she says of the pottery class at Florida Gulf Coast University that would change her life trajectory. “There was something about the tactile feel of the clay. I fell in love with it right away.”
That’s not to say ceramics fell in love with her back. “Everything I created at the beginning was horrible,” says Blankenship. “But I kept going into the studio, spending weekends there, trying to get better, and eventually I did.”
Good enough, in fact, to pursue a master’s degree on the subject and eventually open her own studio in Estero. Growing her practice was challenging at first, even after setting up an Etsy page in 2018 and participating in as many local art shows and pop-up markets as her schedule would allow. Then came the Covid pandemic.
“All of a sudden, when so much around us seemed so bad, things really started picking up for me,” says Blankenship, who credits her surge in popularity to the human touch that ceramics require and which we were all encouraged to avoid during those months. “I launched my website, and retailers began inquiring about purchases. In 2020, I had 15 wholesale clients; today I have more than 70.”
It’s not hard to see the appeal of Blankenship’s creations. The artisan is an attuned potter who is mindful about a bowl’s weight not being too light nor too heavy, how a mug’s rim needs to feel comfortable on the lips, and the way the glazing of a piece feels on one’s hand can make it a favorite or forgotten in the back of the cupboard. “Craft objects that are functional are special because they make you slow down and think about your day as you’re brewing coffee or making tea,” she says. “There’s a special everyday connection.”
These days represent somewhat of a full-circle moment for Blankenship, who hopes to open a retail studio soon. She’s back at Florida Gulf Coast University teaching the very course that made her fall in love with the possibilities of water and clay. “I’m helping emerging artists learn that ceramics is a bridge between fine art and domesticity,” she says. “I want them to understand the beauty of simplicity when objects are made thoughtfully and honestly.”
Story Credits:
Text by Kelley Marcellus
Portrait by Reba Jensen; Artisan on Pottery Wheel Photo by Anna Nguyen; Lathe Photo courtesy by Jordan Blankenship
Speckle Ceramic Collection and Espresso Cup photos courtesy of Jordan Blankenship; Charcuterie Set photo by Reba Jensen
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