Meet Joanne Giannaris

We recently connected with Joanne Giannaris and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Joanne, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Working with my hands has always been a part of my life since childhood, but I didn’t make the connection with ceramics until much later in life. After elementary school, I didn’t take any art classes because I thought that you had to have innate talent to draw and I lacked that. I later realized that art and design skills can be learned and that my passions translated best into 3-d forms. I found my purpose in clay with its therapeutic qualities that transforms into art or functional pieces.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I started making ceramics as a hobby while I was working as an Interior Design Assistant. I found myself gravitating towards the accessories during projects and at interior designer shows. I eventually shifted to making art and ceramics full time. I started my business, Joanne Alexia Designs, but I wanted to connect with customers on a personal level. I decided to do in person shows, markets or let people shop in my home studio. I make functional ware, ceramic jewelry and sculptural pieces. These sculptural pieces challenge my creativity and patience and I absolutely love making them! I have certain pieces at my markets that I sell, donating 100% of the profits to Alzheimer’s research.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Learning how to make ceramics is a lifetime journey so I am continuously growing in my field. The most important lesson that ceramics teaches you is to let go. This is a very hard lesson to learn if you have spent countless hours on a piece only to see it shatter. You get better at this as the years go by and it applies well to life as well. Much of ceramics is a lesson in chemistry so you have to put in the work learning about this. There are endless variables when you work with earth, water, chemicals and fire! Lastly, inspiration ebbs and flows so I have learned to relax a bit and let the creativity come naturally through experimentation and playing around.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

I have been taking classes at the community College for years because of the amazing ceramics studio they have. The professor is all about experimentation and learning from your mistakes. The classes are usually made up of a variety of people; old, middle aged and young and bring unique perspectives and interesting takes on projects. I have learned immeasurably from this experience and it gives me such joy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: joannealexiadesigns

Image Credits

Joanne Giannaris