I had a wonderful time creating this sculpture study last winter for this years 2025 Wisconsin Craft Member Biennial Exhibition. For some of you who have followed me for a long time, you might remember I used to draw and carve "cactus" imagery on my pieces. I thought the Prickly Pear would be a fun challenge to create in 3D for the exhibition. 

This Exhibition runs March 7 - April 25, 2025 in Gallery 110 North at the Plymouth Art Center in Plymouth, WI
More info can be found here: https://wisconsincraft.org/Member-Exhibitions

​John Michael Kohler Art Center-

I was fortunate to be selected as featured artists for the Midsummer Festival of Arts at the John Michael Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan on July 20 & 21, 2024.
It was an honor to have been selected and they used my 'Under the Sea" imagery on all of the promotional materials, t-shirts, and banners around the Museum.

The museum is also celebrating 50 years of their Arts & Industry Program.
So, I got a little creative and decided to combine my “Under the Sea” design theme with some tools of the Arts & Industry trade
You will see:
-Turtle with hard hat
-Crab with drill
-Kiln under the water
-Octopus holding a ceramic slip cast mold with funnel
-Deep Sea Diver with metal grinder

I also created this special platter with an underwater ceramic theme and also created a few electric kiln mugs! It was a blast seeing all of the imagery all over the Festival grounds and the t-shirts.
​
What is the Kohler Arts & Industry Program?
This is from their website: “Arts/Industry is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable collaborations between art and industry in the United States. The residency program is administered by the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, a nonprofit arts organization in Sheboygan, WI, and hosted and funded by Kohler Co., a private for-profit plumbing ware company in nearby Kohler, WI. Founded by visionary arts leader Ruth DeYoung Kohler, Arts/Industry provides artists a place to make their artwork in tandem with the skilled craftspeople who work for Kohler Co. The program is rooted in the collaborative efforts between contemporary artists and industrial artisans, resulting in brilliant works of art.
Hundreds of artists have benefited from this celebrated artist residency since its beginning in 1974. Arts/Industry offers artists the time and space to focus on the creation of new work in studios located within the Pottery and Foundry at the Kohler Co. factory.
Artists need not have experience working with clay or metal, but an interest in adapting industrial processes to their practice and an openness to the factory environment is needed. Residents are exposed to a body of technical knowledge that enables and encourages them to explore new ways of thinking and working.”

Want to win 1,500?!!
I am not kidding, lol!

For Immediate Release
May 7, 2024
Media Contact:
Tyler Burkart, Village Manager
[email protected]
414-371-3051
 
Update: Medallion was found!
Press Links: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
www.jsonline.com/story/communities/north/2024/05/10/brown-deer-is-holding-a-treasure-hunt-with-a-1500-grand-prize/73626893007/ 
My interview on CBS 58
www.cbs58.com/news/heres-your-chance-to-win-1500-and-a-free-meal-in-brown-deer-thanks-to-a-new
​
Brown Deer Community Foundation Announces 2024 Medallion Hunt:Café Corazon-Sponsored Event Promises Exciting Treasure Hunt and Grand Prize of $1,500

Brown Deer-- The Brown Deer Community Foundation is excited to announce the coordination of the 2024 Medallion Hunt, set to begin on Tuesday, May 14.

The medallion, crafted by local Brown Deer artist Jean Wells, will be hidden somewhere within Brown Deer. Clues to its location will be published through Brown Deer communication channels and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and North Shore Now every Tuesday and Friday until the medallion is found, with up to eight clues created for the hunt.

The medallion hunt is proudly sponsored by local restaurant Café Corazon. The medallion, designed to mimic the Café Corazon logo, will be a heart approximately 3 inches in diameter. The lucky individual who finds the medallion will receive a grand prize of $1,500 and a complimentary meal for four at Café Corazon’s location in Brown Deer.
 
The Foundation will work closely with Café Corazon to host a photo opportunity and ceremony recognizing the winner of the medallion hunt.  Stay tuned for more updates and happy hunting!

Find the clues here starting May 14 online in the North Shore News:
www.jsonline.com/story/communities/north/2024/05/10/brown-deer-is-holding-a-treasure-hunt-with-a-1500-grand-prize/73626893007/​

Other Links: 
Village of Brown Deer Website: https://www.browndeerwi.org/
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel North Shore Now: https://www.jsonline.com/communities/north/
Cafe Corazon: https://corazonmilwaukee.com/
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​Below are a few photos I took while making the medallion.  The clay medallion was hand sculpted, painted with underglaze, bisque fired, stained with red iron oxide, glazed with a clear satin glazed and then fired once more in the glaze kiln. 

It's always a delight to discover my work featured in an event poster or promotional materials for an art festival!
This year, a photo showcasing my mugs is included on the 2024 Stevens Point Festival of the Arts poster, alongside several other talented artists. Our selection for the 2024 event poster stems from the recognition we received last year at the 2023 event, where each of us was honored with awards.
Being chosen for the prestigious Best in 3-D Award was truly humbling and gratifying! You can find the list of 2023 award winners here: stevenspointfoa.com/award-winners.
I look forward to participating in this year's event and if you are in the area, I hope you can come and explore the event!
​Click on the image to explore more about the Steven's Point Festival of the Arts and join me in congratulating them on their 50th Anniversary!

Very excited that this is our fifth year producing this event! As one of the founders it is really wonderful to see how this event keeps growing.  Presented by Wisconsin Craft, this event is a self-guided urban studio tour where attendees can discover artists in their neighborhoods or explore various studios around Milwaukee County.  ​

My newest design is the Bleeding Hearts pattern. One of my favorite flowers as we have many growing all around our back yard. Spring is my favorite time of year as the shoots and leaves of this amazing plant are sprouting forth from the ground.
The Bleeding Heart pattern is definitely my most complicated to date.  It consists of a different approach to applying my colored slip. A more painterly technique, I brush on layers of the different colors in specific areas on the piece before I do the carving. Once carved, I then paint on additional highlights of color to define the flower's details and ad a little more depth.  Video Below:

It is so wonderful to be back at in-person shows this year! If you enjoy collecting pottery, The Clay Collective Spring Pottery Tour is for you! Nine different Tour Stops featuring a total of 24 potters from around the region.  Tour Stops are located in and around south-eastern Wisconsin communities of Cambridge, Deerfield, Lake Mills and Johnson Creek.

I will be located at tour stop #5 at the home of Glen Cutcher's in Cambridge.
Hope to see you there on April 30th and May 1, 2022! Celebrating 10 years!

Everyone loves a good mug.  People say they enjoy my mugs because they are large, sturdy, and super functional. They love the large handle and the curved body so they can hold the mug with their hand around the middle.  A variety of colors and patterns can be found in stock and ready to ship in my ETSY Shop. Local pick up available in Brown Deer, WI.

I hope you can come and visit my home studio at 8469 N 50th Street in Brown Deer, WI on October 3 & 4!

Press Release: 
The Wisconsin Designer Craft Council (WDCC) will be presenting the second annual MKE Fine Craft Studio Tour,  Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 3 & 4, from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. both days. The MKE Fine Craft Studio Tourwill include 9 working “host” studios with 31 different artists  total displaying and discussing their fine craft. 
​
“This is a fun and safe opportunity to explore Milwaukee and shop one-of-a-kind handmade art and gifts directly from the makers,” said Jean Wells, President of the Wisconsin Designer Craft Council.  “Great timing for the upcoming holiday season and it helps support small business owners.” 
 
Attendees will be able to view the creative environments where the host artists develop and produce their wares. Each location will offer a distinct variety of fine crafts such as: fiber, leather, ceramics, woodworking, sculpture, metalsmithing, photography, mixed media, jewelry, and encaustic painting.
 
Each location on the MKE Fine Craft Studio Tour will be observing CDC Guidelines such as social distancing and mandatory face masks. Hand Sanitizer and face masks (for purchase) will be available. Some studios will be limiting guests and it’s suggested that all tents/rooms be occupied by no more than 2 people or family group at any given time. 
 
Visit www.MKEfinecraftstudiotour.org for detailed information of all locations (including printable map), participating artists and tour stops.  Attendees can visit all nine tour stops or select a variety of stops based on their personal interests.
 
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About WDCC:  Established in 1916, the Wisconsin Designer Crafts Council (WDCC) has been a statewide organization dedicated to fostering excellence in fine crafts and making them more significant in the cultural life of Wisconsin. 
WDCC works to elevate the standards of design and craftsmanship among Wisconsin’s artisans and the crafts community. WDCC encourages individual expression, vitality and aesthetic growth opportunities for fellowship, acquisition of skills, and competitive exhibitions.

​Photos above: 1) MKE Fine Craft Studio Tour yard sign, 2) Jef Raasch, sculpture, J.A.R. Studio, 3) Lennis Mathews, Encaustic Collage, 4) Erika Mock, Fiber Artist (Photo by Stephanie Bartz)  5) Andrew Linderman Pottery (Photo by Stephanie Bartz 
6) Lyn Chevrier - Jewelry