Blog

This blog is a space for sharing thoughts from the studio and reflections from the road. I write about my ceramic process, evolving bodies of work, travel experiences, and the ideas that shape how I think about making. It’s an ongoing journal that connects place, practice, and perspective.

Janette Harwell Janette Harwell

Travel Inspo: Copenhagen Designed for Joy

Named Happiest City in the World for 2025, Copenhagen earns it. Walking the canals, neighborhoods, and public spaces, I noticed how the city slows you down, invites attention, and somehow makes everything feel balanced and thoughtful.

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Janette Harwell Janette Harwell

Travel Inspo: 72 Hours in Mexico City

More than 15 years had passed since my first visit to Mexico City, and this year, I felt the pull to return. I had two great reasons: celebrating my birthday and attending Zona Maco, Latin America’s biggest contemporary art fair. I traveled with two close friends—one a regular visitor to CDMX, the other experiencing it for the first time—so we had a lot of ground to cover in just three and a half days.

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Janette Harwell Janette Harwell

Travel Inspo: Greece

Athens. Just saying the name pulls you back through time—temples on the hill, philosophers in the Agora, gods in marble. It’s one of those cities that lives vividly in the imagination, and being there in person? Even better.

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Janette Harwell Janette Harwell

2024 in Review: A Year of Growth, Creative Challenges, and New Connections

As 2024 draws to a close, I’m taking a moment to reflect on the artistic path this year has been. From new inspirations and challenges to exciting collaborations, it’s been a year of growth, experimentation, and connection. I’m thrilled to share some of the highlights from my ceramic practice, as well as a few projects that have pushed me to explore new techniques and ideas.

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Janette Harwell Janette Harwell

Unleash the Dragon: New Work

I’m excited to share what’s been taking shape in the studio. This new series draws from the energy of the Year of the Dragon. It’s something that’s been sitting with me as I’ve been working through these forms. 🐉

In the Chinese zodiac, the dragon is the only mythical creature. It’s often associated with strength, prosperity, and transformation. What I’m most drawn to is its sense of movement and momentum. There’s a natural push forward in that symbolism that feels especially relevant in the studio right now.

This body of work leans into that idea. It’s less about illustrating the dragon and more about channeling its energy through form, surface, and gesture. Letting that sense of growth and change guide the direction of the pieces.

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Janette Harwell Janette Harwell

Travel Inspo: Morocco

Morocco was a sensory rush from start to finish. We explored five cities in ten days, each bursting with energy, history, and intoxicating color.

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Janette Harwell Janette Harwell

Travel Inspo: Egypt

For my mom’s 80th birthday, my brother and I wanted to do something unforgettable. Egypt had always been high on her list, so we made it happen—a trip that turned out to be as meaningful as it was awe-inspiring.

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Janette Harwell Janette Harwell

Travel Inspo: Naoshima Island, Japan

Naoshima Island, also known as Art Island, in Japan's Seto Inland Sea is an inspiring haven where art, architecture, and nature seamlessly converge.

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