Rain City Clay is lucky to be staffed by a group of dedicated ceramicists who work diligently to keep the studio running, who teach with passion and exuberance, and engage and build community through clay. In addition to all that they do at RCC, they also have their own clay practices, either at RCC or off-site, where they make their own work and grow their skills. Each month we will be featuring one of our fantastic staff members and their talents.

This month we are highlighting instructor Jennifer ‘Fuj’ Fujimoto (she/her)!

Jennifer’s Bio:

Originally from Hawaii, and raised outside of Portland, Oregon, Jennifer Fujimoto completed her BFA in Graphic Communication Design at the University of Denver in 1996. For over 20 years, Jennifer worked as a graphic and user experience designer for companies such as Google, Amazon, Starbucks, Microsoft, and Nike, playing a prominent role in shaping some of the most popular products and applications of our time.

In 2017, Jennifer stepped away from the computer to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an independent artist. She currently practices ceramics, design, and printmaking in Seattle and online.

Jennifer’s Artist Statement:

My work is an invitation. It is an invitation to take life less seriously and have fun, to connect with ourselves and each other through joy and curiosity. I seek to create a feeling of well-being, connection, and belonging for those who may feel like outsiders in their own communities. I am grateful when my work strikes a chord with the viewer, evoking a feeling of nostalgia or sentimentality, a reminder of a loved one or a favorite place or time.

I am an enthusiastic participant in processes that cannot be rushed - ceramics, printmaking, and pattern. Each informs and inspires the others. Shaping, carving, printing, repeating. Finding my flow in these slow, meditative activities. I draw inspiration from the folk art traditions of Japan to connect to my heritage. I play with form, color, and symbol, layering and repeating until they become something untried. A stray mark or awkward shape becomes a new word in my vocabulary. My aesthetic is purposefully unsophisticated and joyful, unselfconsciously childlike. Lighthearted. I color outside the lines.

I let the unsteadiness of my hand show, leaving evidence of my imperfect self in my work.

What have you liked about being an RCC instructor?

I’ve really enjoyed being in a space with so much creative community energy! Seeing the students absorb and then apply what they’re learning and to really push themselves to try new techniques has been so gratifying. I also love helping folks troubleshoot and problem solve issues so they can work towards getting the results they envision for their work.

What are your inspirations / influences when making work?

I’m inspired by so many different things. The most evident in my work is probably my obsession with Japanese textiles/patterns and folk art, but I’m also inspired by human connection and emotion, mythology, and cultural traditions. I had a previous career as a graphic designer which is a big influence in terms of the surface techniques I’m most drawn to.

How long have you been working with clay?

Almost exactly 10 years! I took my very first class in the summer of 2015 at Pottery Northwest. After about a year and a half of classes I was totally hooked and I participated in their work-study program so that I could learn more about what happens behind the scenes (aka the less glamorous side of being a potter!).

What is your favorite part of the clay process?

My favorite surface material is underglaze! My absolute favorite colors are chartreuse, turquoise and bright yellow. I just love the ability to blend and make ombré with any color but mainly yellow and chartreuse.

What is your favorite tool?

The Xiem blue silicone rib #5, hands down! It’s firm enough to become an extension of your hand while throwing, creates less friction/drag than fingers when shaping and allows for good compression and an smooth surface. I also use it after trimming to burnish the surface of the pot and do additional compression on the foot.

How do you push through creative blocks?

My creative blocks tend to come from having perfectionist tendencies and overthinking. I have never had a shortage of ideas or not known what I want to do next but I do get hung up on trying to do things “right” the first time. This often results in A LOT of time passing and being in my own head before I get around to actually doing the work.

One strategy I am using to work through this centers around more experimentation and repeating the mantra “f around and find out” (FAFO) to myself when I’m stalled. I am also getting better - in ceramics at least - at trying out new ideas on small, throwaway pieces. Getting a small test kiln has been a game changer for me for this reason.

Do you like to listen to music or podcasts in the studio?

I do! More music than podcasts because my brain can’t focus on working and taking in the details of what’s being said at the same time and my productivity goes way down. But it depends on the task really. I listen to different types and tempos of music depending on what I’m doing - it can get pretty eclectic!

For throwing and trimming I like to listen to more upbeat music - I have playlists seeded with artists like Upsahl, DJ Shadow, Mulatu Astatke, and The Astroids Galaxy Tour. When I’m decorating and glazing it gets more mellow and the seeds are Francoise Hardy, Mono, Ingrid Michaelson, or more generally slack key guitar or classical music.

I heard you’re moving!? Where are you moving to and will you be setting up a studio when you move there? Will you continue teaching?

Yes! I’ll be moving at the end of April to Hawaii (Oahu specifically) to be closer to family. I do plan on setting up a studio at some point but no idea yet when that will happen. I’m hoping at least short term to find a studio with membership space for me to make and to meet members of the local clay community while I get settled. I’d love to keep teaching but I don’t have anything lined up… yet!

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February 2025 Instructor Highlight: Jennifer Fujimoto

Get to know Jennifer!