Jean (Smaglik) Wells, Jean's Clay Studio Pottery Achives

Jean's Clay Studio Archives

This page is a work in progress. It is my hope to document and record a small archive of the development of my work over the years. Not only for my own record, but for collectors and thrift store shoppers who run across older pieces from years gone by...............

Madison Union Terrace Mugs: 2020 - 2023

I continue to create my annual limited edition mugs based off the Madison Union Terrace Chairs. These mugs are available once a year online online on my Etsy Shop, in the morning of July 1. Officially Licensed by the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

New Color Blend in 2023

2023

2021

2022

2020

2022 - Museum of WI Art - Marion CoffeY COLLECTION

The Museum of Wisconsin Art asked me to create a small collection of pottery inspired and honoring Wisconsin Artist Marion Coffey. An exhibition of her work was on display at the Museum in West Bend, WI during the spring and summer of 2022. I had a lot of fun exploring her paintings to create these one-of-a-kind pieces. I didn't no sgraffito on these pieces, just painted with LOTS of color! These items were sold out pretty quickly in the museum gift shop. I also fell in love with her paintings!

2021 - Two New Patterns Created - Bleeding Heart & Hydrangea

Drawn to the flora in our wonderful gardens of our backyard, lovingly tended by my husband Bob, I created the bleeding heart pattern which involved applying my colored slips in a new "painterly" fashion. Something I hadn't tried much before. This way of decorating is opening new ideas and approaches for me.
The Hydrangea pattern developed out of the Hydrangea pattern I created for MOWA, two years earlier.

Milwaukee & madison Skyline Merchandise 2020

When Covid hit and everything stopped. I took the time to develop something different. My Milwaukee & Madison skyline pieces have been really popular, but they are also very time consuming since I hand draw and carve the imagery on every piece. For this project, I worked with a Graphic Designer, Laura Holder, Laura Holder Design, who helped convert my imagery into digital files. I hand drew the layers: skylines, sky, and water into my Ipad - a little more challenging than I thought but it was fun! I have ordered, T-shirts, stainless steel tumblers and water bottles, magnets, stickers, greeting cards, aluminum prints, a hand-bound journal, and bandanas. Items that are still available can be found on my Etsy site in the Skyline Merchandise section.

2019 - ASPEN POTTERY FOR THE MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART

In the Fall of 2019, the second series of custom pieces for the Museum of Wisconsin Art's gift shop were also created to honor their newer landscaping. This series featured the Aspen Trees. Leaves in both summer and fall, along with an Aspen Bark pattern.

2019 Madison Union Terrace Mugs

In the Summer of 2019, The University of Madison gift shop contacted me to create some mugs for them using their trademarked Union Terrace Chair imagery. Long story short...they are not being sold in the gift shop, but I sell a limited number of mugs now each year on July 1 - online only in my Etsy Shop. I am an officially licensed artist through the UW-Madison system that allows me to use this trademarked image. :)

2019 - Hydrangea Pottery for the Museum of Wisconsin Art

In the Spring of 2019, I created some custom pieces for the Museum of Wisconsin Art's gift shop. To honor their new landscaping around the museum, I developed a new hydrangea design that will be sold exclusively through the MOWA gift shop in West Bend, WI. The MOWA Shop is open to members and the general public during regular museum hours, Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–5:00 and Thursday, 10:00–8:00. If you have not had a chance to visit the Museum of Wisconsin Art, I encourage you to do so!

2018 Colectivo Coffee 25th Anniversary Edition Mugs

In 2018, Colectivo Coffee Roasters celebrated their 25 year anniversary and I was commissioned to create a new edition of mugs. This time I came up with my own design depicting a coffee tree branch with the "coffee cherry" beans. Colors are the classic Colectivo colors: Black, Red and Blue.

First of the Skyline pieces Created - 2017

The first of the Milwaukee Skyline pieces were created for a competition called the Imagine Project amongst artist participating in the Morning Glory Fine Craft Fair in August 2017. These pieces were a huge hit and since then, I have developed a Madison Skyline design and am currently working on a Chicago Skyline.

Colectivo Coffee Sugar Skulls 2017

850 Sugar Skull mugs were made for Colectivo Coffee in the Fall of 2017 in the colors below: White, Black, Dark Red and a Greenish Blue!

US Open Championship Pottery 2017

Jean's Clay Studio was commissioned by the / USGA (United States Golf Association) to make custom pieces for the 2017 U.S. Open held at Erin Hills, WI in June of 2017. All pieces have been sold and were a limited edition run. It was a wonderful experience to be a part of Wisconsin's first U.S. Open Championship. A big thanks to the USGA for their efforts in recruiting local artists near the Championships to create one of a kind pieces.

Below is a video I created showing the making of the US Open pieces.

Fox 6 News:

2016 - 2011

This is a photo of my current "potter's mark' and signature. My "potter's mark" is the letter 'S' for Smaglik which is my maiden name. This mark has been relatively consisted for the past 17 years. I currently sign my work "J. Wells" or "Wells".

Current Work:
Below is a sampling of photos of my current work over the past 4 years. Over the past two years I have begun to add more color to my pieces with underglaze highlights and newer clay slip base colors. I was also trying to simplify my patters a bit as I was busy being a full time parent and struggling with over-use issues in my shoulders and elbows from the stress of carving and making pottery.

2015 Fall Limited Edition Colectivo Coffee Mugs

Approximately 300 mugs were made in Black, Blue and Orange with the Colectivo Sugar Skull Design.

2014 Fall Limited Edition Colectivo Coffee Mugs

Approximately 630 mugs were made in Black, Red, and White with yellow accents. Sugar Skull Design.

2014 Spring Limited Edition Colectivo Coffee Mugs

Approximately 520 mugs were made in Black, Blue, Red and White with a floral pattern mimicking the Sugar Skull Design from the prior year.

2013 Summer Limited Edition Colectivo Coffee Mugs

Approximately 550 mugs were made to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Alterra Coffee Roasters and celebrate the name change to Colectivo Coffee Roasters. Sugar Skull Design

2011-1998

During this period my work was heavily carved and I really dove into sgraffito imagery. On each piece, a design was hand drawn through colored clay slip, then the background was completely carved away similar to a linoleum cut or wood block. The carving technique was quite intense and I was developing tendentious in my right arm. During 2011, I needed to come up with a new way to keep making pottery with the graphic imagery that I loved. My current work is what developed out of the process.

Above is a photo of my potter's mark and Signature when I still included my maiden name. I was married in 2001 and added my married name - Wells - that year. Prior to that, Smaglik was just used.

1998 Wood-fired Series

In 1998 I was featured at Geneva Art Pottery in a two person show. I was able to participate in their annual wood firing of their Anagama kiln. Here are several of the many pieces that came out of that firing.

1993 - 1997

In 1993 I moved back to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and set up studio at Lincoln Art Pottery on 7th and Lincoln Avenue on the south side of Milwaukee. It was here that I officially started to make pottery full time and helped manage the pottery shop that featured about 14 local potters. I had a borrowed kiln that could only fire up to about cone 04 so I had to create in earthenware. I created both hand built and wheel thrown items with bright glazes and a little wax-resist decoration.

1990-1991

In 1990 I had the privilege to apprentice with John Bailey and Claire Berger-Bailey at Geneva Art Pottery in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. They created beautiful stoneware pottery - gas fired reduction - and also fired their wood-fired anagama tunnel kiln once a year. During my apprenticeship, I also helped nanny their two adorable boys. It was a wonderful experience and learned so much. One year, the front of the kiln collapsed at the start of the firing. We pulled out the broken pots and rebuilt the front of the kiln and started the firing back up again!

1985 - 1988

Cleveland Institute of Art. I attended CIA for three years with a major in ceramics and a minor in portrait painting. I do not have many digital records of the pieces I created in college but here are a few!