Process

My creative process is slow by nature. Ceramics, in particular, demands patience—from throwing a form and hand-sculpting, to carving texture, drying, bisque firing, and the final glaze firing. None of my work will ever move at a fast pace.

This slowness is not a limitation; it is what asks me to slow down as well. The process cannot be rushed. Working with clay places my mind in a state of deep concentration, gently blocking out external distractions.

My intention is to remain at peace with small batches of inventory and commission pieces made with purpose, care, and presence.

What Brings Me Joy

I love working with my hands, making things is a deep part of who I am.  I am also a very tactile person and ceramics is a responsive medium. It is a joy to work with a material that comes directly from the earth. The feel and smell of clay is indescribable.  I adore the way the clay moves, bends, folds, and transforms. There are so many similarities between making ceramics and life. 

My Evolution

Ceramics is a lifelong journey—one that can take decades to truly master. My work is far from perfect, but I’m grateful to share my evolution along the way.

My relationship with clay began in childhood through city-run classes, and it deepened when my parents gifted me a pottery wheel as a high school graduation present. In college, I spent several semesters working on the wheel and studying sculpture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Around the same time, figure drawing became a lifelong passion—one that continues to inform my ceramic work. When clay and form come together, it feels like pure magic.

Ceramics re-entered my life during a particularly demanding chapter, while I was designing products and textiles at Petunia Pickle Bottom. I founded the company in 2000, and while the creative and business growth was exciting, it was also intense. I began carving out a few evenings each week to work with clay purely for joy. Returning to ceramics not only restored a sense of calm, but also reignited my creativity as a designer—bringing me back to the simple pleasure of making.

I studied under Mark Churchill in Ojai, where I learned the methodical rhythms of wheel throwing: patient drying, thoughtful trimming, embracing the unpredictability of the kiln, and discovering the quiet magic of glazes.

After selling Petunia Pickle Bottom to a private equity firm in 2019, I was able to move into full-time making in my home studio. I cherished that chapter, especially while my boys were young. As my ceramic practice grew, however, my space became increasingly limited. I began envisioning a place to spread out—somewhere to explore larger-scale work, host a small gallery, and share my love of ceramics with the community.

At the end of 2025, I renovated and moved into the DeNai Jones Ceramics Gallery & Workshop in historic downtown Ventura. This new chapter has allowed me to fully spread my wings—to create, to teach, and to share what I love most with others.  Please come and visit, 365 E Santa Clara Street, Ventura, CA.