Two women at the **Jacksonville Pottery Studio** work on pottery wheels to create ceramic pieces. One woman in a black shirt and pink apron uses a tool to shape a flat clay disc, while the other woman in a pink jumpsuit sits behind her, molding a bowl. Tall metal shelving units filled with studio supplies and pottery are visible in the background.

The Jacksonville Pottery Studio: A Place to Escape and Create

By: Lily Mitchell

The Jacksonville Pottery Studio is a welcoming space that offers workshops, classes and memberships to anyone no matter the skill set. Three years ago, the studio moved into a larger 7,350 sq. ft building allowing them to expand their operation and grow with the community. 

Peyton Delaney has been the retail manager at Jacksonville Pottery Studio since they moved to the new location. Delaney felt burned out from her corporate job and wanted to try something new, so she took a wheel-throwing class. She fell in love with pottery and working on the wheel because it became therapeutic for her to use her hands. When she saw a position open, she applied and hasn’tstopped making cups, planters, and bowls since.  

Wheel-throwing is hard though. There are several moving parts, like your hand placement and pedal speed, that take time to get used to. Hannah Middlebrooks is a studio assistant and teaches a 5-week beginner course. She coaches her students and helps them become one with the clay until eventually they reach a “flow state” where you experience a mind and body synchronization that makes your movements ‘flow.’  

“Just like any other skill …you gotta practice, practice, practice.” —Hannah Middlebrooks 

For those suffering from stress or feeling drained from work, it can be beneficial to have a creative outlet such as ceramics. Research shows that making art increases happy hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, while decreasing cortisol, the stress hormone. The Jacksonville Pottery Studio has become a place for people to escape their worries and create something to use in their daily routine.  

“I think mentally it’s just a good break. When you’re throwing on the wheel you can’t think about anything else.” —Hannah Middlebrooks 

Pottery incorporates art into everyday life and for people to have an idea, bring it to life and use it all the time can be quite special. Not to mention being a part of a community like the one at Jacksonville Pottery Studio helps with the creative process. The people who work there and their members have created a relaxed atmosphere that allows guests to feel inspired without judgement. 

 The Jacksonville Pottery Studio encourages everyone to slow down and dig into their creativity. 

To book a class at the Jacksonville Pottery Studio, click here.