My Story

Welcome!

My name is Jan Bostwick and I am the creator of Jan's Pottery LLC. I design and craft wheel-thrown pottery pieces that are as useful and versatile as they are beautiful. I’ve been making and selling pottery from my home studio in Royal Oak, Michigan for almost forty years.

Art has always been an important part of my life. I was the type of kid who loved being outside and just had to get my hands on everything, whether it was catching frogs in the neighborhood creek or building sandcastles at recess. Art class was my favorite part of the day because it was when I got to play with different materials and discover all the new things I could make. Growing up, my parents encouraged me and my five siblings to explore our creativity as much as we wanted. They were both artistic and knew how important it was for us to find ways to express ourselves. It’s no surprise that I would eventually make my living as an artist!

I discovered my love of pottery in college when I happened to walk past the window of one of the art buildings. When I saw the students inside working at potter’s wheels, I knew instantly that I had to join them. I started learning everything I could about pottery, and within a few years I was making and selling my own pieces. 

After college, I worked hard to establish myself as an artist, spending all my spare time building my studio and traveling to art shows around the country. Shows gave me the chance to meet fellow creative people, often making lifelong friendships, and through them I learned as much about the business of art as I did about pottery itself. 

In 1998, I took a leap of faith and left my desk job of twenty years at General Motors to pursue a full-time career as an artist and entrepreneur. While scary at the time, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! Today, I not only get to spend my days doing what I love, I’ve also recently started teaching pottery to a new generation of artists.

My pottery is designed to be functional, practical, and made to last. I want my customers to experience the joy of owning a piece of art they can use every day. All my serving pieces are safe for the oven, dishwasher, and microwave. I use an electric sander to smooth the bottom of each piece, so it can be set down on a table without fear of scratching. I offer a wide selection of glaze colors while being careful to select color combinations that are harmonious with each other and can be incorporated seamlessly into your home.

One of the best parts of creating functional pottery is coming up with ideas for new pieces that people will love. When you explore my shop, you will see items I’ve been making for decades alongside new creations that I introduce after lots of research and experimentation. My friends and family are always ready to field-test my new items and give honest feedback, so by the time the piece makes it into my store, you can be sure it will perform exactly as it’s supposed to.

Thank you for visiting my store, and please enjoy looking around! I am so happy to share my art, and I hope you find something that you and your loved ones can enjoy for years to come.