Cerazmic is a ceramic studio specializing in the production of decorative, handmade ceramic tile. Cerazmic’s goal is to provide tile that will appeal to our senses and make our interior spaces come alive. The studio is owned and operated by Jacques.
Cerazmic: Inside the Studio provides a glimpse into the discoveries and mishaps that are experienced in maintaining a ceramic art studio. It shares the processes that go into working with clay, everything from how ideas are developed to how they are produced. Enjoy this look inside a working ceramic studio.
About Me:
I currently live in DFW, Texas although grew up living in a variety of different places. This nomadic lifestyle affected my perception of the world at an early age. By being exposed to several vastly different cultures and adapting to unique environments, I had already gained a global appreciation long before it became mainstream. Living in Hawaii, I learned traditional Hawaiian crafts such as making haku leis and learning lauhala weaving. I spent weekends at the beach soaking in the beauty, excitement, and abundance of life. I listened to the history of the islands and was intrigued even more so by its folklore. Years later my surroundings changed and I found himself among the diversity and antiquity of Europe, in particular living in the Netherlands. The contrast between island life and the Old World is only one example of how my attention was drawn into the details of these places, their similarities and differences. This happened every time we moved. Each place I lived I absorbed the culture and atmosphere taking pieces of the experiences with me and comparing it to the prior places I had lived.
The one constant in my childhood was my family. My dad was a very practical, do-it-yourself type individual and because of this he inadvertently inspired me to not be afraid to tinker, even if it meant using his tools from time to time and facing the consequences. Thanks to my mom there was never a shortage of art materials or encouragement to be creative. She sent me on imaginary adventures where couch cushions were constructed into submarines. The adventures wouldn’t be complete without my older brother there to lead the way. He and I were close in age and therefore better than best friends. I grew up in a home where I was free to be expressive. This, however, meant I was also surrounded by other artistically-minded family members and our expressive freedom was coupled with each others constructive criticisms.
In college, I embraced a formal liberal arts education. My family life and experiences growing up had already conditioned me for this type of multifaceted learning but it wasn’t until then that I had an epiphany-like moment. I dove into various topics of interest such as philosophy, sociology, literature, etc… I strengthen my ability to organize my thoughts and analyze. My childhood thinking cap was now on overdrive. The freedom that was encouraged as a child was reinforced by becoming an independent thinker. Eventually, I chose the path of an artist and designer since I felt it would allow me to continue my journey that started with my experiences as a child.
Today I still see myself a modern day nomad, rather than looking for food or traveling to offers goods, I observe curiosities of my environment, collect experiences, and unravel mysteries as a way to discover purpose.
