Beginning with a humble lump of clay, potter, designer, and author Jonathan Adler launched his aesthetic of irreverent luxury in 1994. His home furnishings and sense of irreverent luxury have since been embraced worldwide in stores, homes, hotels, and even on the set of E!’s Fashion Police, which he designed. His fourth book, 100 Ways to Happy Chic your Life, was released in November 2012. He shares with me some of his feelings about style, craft, joy and Etsy.
Karen: I understand you had a pottery teacher in college named Jackie who helped set you on your path. Can you tell us about her?
Jonathan: The best advice I ever got in my life was from my pottery teacher, Jackie Rice. She told me that I had no talent and I should move to New York and become a lawyer. I think every creative person, and every craftsperson, should have a naysayer to rebel against.
Karen: You have described yourself at 26 as “failing and unemployable” but instead of feeling defeated, you experienced a burst of creative freedom. Why was this period of your life so liberating?
Jonathan: It was a great time because I had nothing to lose, and also nothing to gain. Etsy didn’t exist, I didn’t know how or if I could ever market my work, but I gave myself six months to just figure it out. I decided I was going to make exactly what I wanted to make with no thought about selling it. I was an outlier, and it was a creative place to be.
Karen: Your work has a very disciplined perfection of form, but is also full of levity and irreverence. How would you describe the relationship between beauty and wit?
Jonathan: I’m really glad that you noticed that about my work. I work really hard to inject wit and levity into chic and it’s a constant challenge. Usually witty and chic are mutually exclusive, and I’ve made it my life’s mission to make chic joyful.
Karen: What is your life as a potter like now? How much time do you spend in the studio? Do you make your own models?
Jonathan: My life now is incredible. I spent my pretty years as a full-time production potter making every single piece myself. Now I’m the luckiest potter in the world – I have a very diverse design life. I spend a lot of time in the studio with my team working on models, and I don’t have to worry so much.
Karen: How did you find Etsy and how you feel about the creativity you see there?
Jonathan: I’ve been aware of Etsy from the very beginning. I wish I could put Etsy in a time machine and send it back to 1993 when I was getting my start as a potter. The fact that craftspeople can now control their own distribution is nothing short of a miracle; Etsy is doing the Lord’s work. I would love nothing more than seeing my fellow craftspeople thrive and flourish and Etsy is an incredible marketplace.
Karen: Not everyone has a Jackie Rice in their life. For Etsy makers who are sans-Jackie, do you have any words about staying true to your instincts and following your heart?
Jonathan: I was the most scatterbrained, impractical, carefree craftsperson ever to walk the face of the earth and somehow I managed to make it. If I did it, you can, too.
Karen: Many people in the Etsy community enjoy creative partnerships at home. What is it like to be married to another highly creative person like Simon Doonan?
Jonathan: I’m so lucky to be married to Simon. I never have to explain anything to him – we can just speak in shorthand. We’re so conversant with the nuances of each other’s worlds that we can communicate via grunts and whistles at this point. He is a delightful and amusing husband and, most importantly, he always lets me control the remote.
Karen: A shout-out to your famous puppy, Liberace. How is he dealing with your success?
Jonathan: Liberace is the star in our household. Neither Simon nor I can hold a candle to his wattage.
Inspired by our exclusive interview with popular home designer Jonathan Adler, we’re kicking off 2013 with the Get Chic Sweepstakes on Pinterest. Enter to win a $1000 Etsy gift card and a copy of Jonathan’s new book, 100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life.
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Adler has fabulous fun style! What an inspirational story of building an amazing life and empire beginning from a simple lump of clay. I love that it was the rebelling against the naysayer teacher that created a push in the positive direction. It really is what we do with what we receive that determines our destiny. I recently had such an uplifting experience when my mom told me she wished she had encouraged art school for me. My well-meaning parents always tried to encourage my science interests as opposed to my artistic ones. I never felt like it ever quite fit and my life was never quite right until I finally pursued my creativity and then followed my purpose with my shop. I finally feel like I'm doing what I want/need to do. I imagine I will continue to adjust and change my direction but pursuing my creativity is definitely where I need to be! Thanks for the great article!
It's always satisfying –– and rare –– to see a designer who lives his values. I love the way Jonathan's responses reveal his deep convictions, couched in the same humor and wit as his aesthetic. I really got the feeling of someone who is living exactly the life he was born to live.
Great interview Karen! I Love Jonathan's bright and bold style!
Jonathan Adler has such a fabulous sense of color!!
I love Jonathan Adler's work and designs! Such great pieces. Its nice to read about his path of being a potter. I think often times in school we are discouraged to think we can't make it as a career artist. It can be practical for the right person!
Loved reading the interview!! big fan of his style!!
So great that you followed your dreams! Beautiful work!
Awwww I wanna kiss that puppy!!! So cute!
All this and Simon Doonan! A kindred spirit! Love Jonathan Adler!
Beautiful work. Adorable dog. What breed is he?
Wow! So inspirational! I look back to those naysayers and say "Thanks"! Im also a scatter-brained creative potter! Thank you for this inspiration on a rainy Monday.
Jonathan Adler is such an inspiration, love his work. And kudos Karen for another fabulous interview. You always ask such great questions!
Hi oncloud7 –– Liberace is a Norwich terrier.
I really dig how Jonathan isn't afraid to use lots of bold, bright color in addition to his neutrals. The color against the white make things just POP out at you like candy.
Great interview, especially the puppy!
This is so inspiring! Love your pottery, so fresh and alive.
It would have been nice to include some things for sale on Etsy that have captured his attention.
Oh so interesting! Amazing story and wonderful ceramics.
I am a huge fan of Jonathan's work! I see his name often as I devour my House Beautiful magazines over and over. Thanks so much for sharing this interview.
What a cute little dog, he must light up every room he walks into!
Great reminder to approach challenges as teachers to grow from!
It's great to see a tastemaker designer up to his elbows in pottery!
I adore the idea of "happy chic" I live it in my home too! I believe we all have a neigh sayer in our lives... a smile and a wink to them... for propelling us to a higher level of creativity! loved the interview!... off to find your book!
Nice interview, Karen, and Jonathan your style of design and decor is quite appealing.
What a great interview! I deeply admire Jonathan and truly covet some of his work for my home... I love to get a glimpse into the creative process of those I admire!
Beautiful pottery! Love the living room picture with those awesome chairs and the white with blue contrast! Thanks for the insight!
This may be one of the most inspiring interviews I have ever read! I admire Jonathan and his work so much, it's simply amazing! And I just love the term "joyful chic", and the sweet adorable puppy :)!
So wonderful and positive! What an uplifting message for budding artists!
love that your unstoppable, god bless you .
Thank you for sharing this! I love Jonathan Adler's work and style, so it's fantastic to hear his thoughts on creativity. He's right about having a naysayer. My Jackie Rice is my father, and it gives me something to rebel against. On the other hand, my mother is a big supporter, so it's nice to have that yin-yang close to fully feed off of. When I'm dragging, I'll try to think of Jonathan's inspiring words about success and get cranking again.
Great interview. Love those chairs!
Also: wearing white pants while throwing on the wheel! I love you, Jonathan, you crazy man.
He's a genius. . . Love that he has a sense of humor about it and injects that into his work...Love his style. If I could invite anyone to a party- I would choose Simon and Jonathan.
fabulous - i love this!
Great interview - love his style.
Wonderful pottery. Love those chairs too!
Who else but Jonathan Adler can throw in white pants? Fabulous!
It is amazing to see Jonathan Adler in action! I am a huge admirer of his work specially his use of color shape and proportion.
I love your work!! You are a great designer and potter!! I love watching you on Design Star!
Great interview - beautiful work and of course Liberace is beyond adorable!
great interview and cute puppy dog!
WOW- fabulous article- thanks so much to both of your for the interview! Im feeling motivated!
Love it!! I'm sitting here painting (although I sell jewelry!)(?) and your article really insprired me!! I just need to create - anything!! So your article was perfect!! Love your work! Really fun! Enjoy~ the life you've created!!
Glad you stuck with it. I love the idea of working for 6 months and just focus on production not sales. Well thought out. I speaks to me. Its so hard to switch on the sales side of tour brain when you get the creative bug going.
Excellent interview - very inspiring!
How wonderful... having a husband who lets YOU get to use the remote! But on the other hand, I suppose poor Simon has a husband who NEVER lets him use it! I'm always slightly bemused by people who allow the opinions of others enough importance to shape their lives. I've never had any problem with simply ignoring them & following my own instincts, & I certainly don't feel the need to live my life as some kind of revenge against anyone who may at some time have said something slightly negative. It seems just plain mean to keep naming a detractor simply to make the point that you proved them wrong.
Great interview, so encouraging !
Great read and simply love that puppy!
Meaningful interview. I agree about the naysayer part - when someone is a bit negative about something, that's when I most want to prove them wrong. So glad for your success, Jonathan. Your dog is adorable! I dig the hand chairs.
Johnathan this was such a great interview and very inspiring I have always loved your work. Your interview is so encouraging. Much continued success to you Simon and Liberace (he is just to cute)!!!
I loved the interview, Jonathan Adler' s work and story is inspiring.
I love this interview. I never thought about his work starting out as a potter so I loved getting to read about his beginnings as an artist. Just in case Jonathan reads any of these comments I would love to see him create a nightstand that doubles as a stylish dog bed/crate. I adore my dog and my dog loves his crate which currently doubles as a nightstand with my alarm clock on it. I'd love for someone to create a stylish orange nightstand that keeps my dog cozy too. Since dogs are an important part of people's lives I'd love to see furniture that caters to that in a stylish whimsical way.
What an inspiring piece. Thanks.
Wonderful interview!! Congratulations on the feature!!
Adler is inspiring, how I wish I had the courage to do what he did and ignore the naysayers. My father wouldn't let me do year 12 art as he said I wasn't talented enough. I then became my biggest naysayer and have spent twenty years being an unhappy teacher as a result. When I had cancer in 2009, I thought it's now or never. I put some paintings in a local cafe and to my delight they sold! I need to create like I need to do any other essential thing in my life. This year I lost my teaching job due to funding cuts, so I am trying finally, to make a job out of what I have a passion for. By the way, my father is now one of my biggest supporters.
eek, how embarrissing! My first comment didn't show up so I did a second one! Oops!
Great interview! Love the new ripple vases.
Love your work,........congrats on the interview and success you've enjoyed.....cute doggie too.
What a great interview! I love the way your designs always have a playful feel to them - it's an excellent reminder that home decor doesn't have to be so serious all the time. Thank you for sharing part of your story here!
Love his style, thanks for the great contest.
Love Jonathan Adler! Great feature to get to look more into his work space. Thanks for the wonderful interview.
Love Jonathan Adler maximalism style. So chic!
I love his work. Thanks for getting the interview!
Nice little interview. Fun to hear how it all began. Sweet puppy!
For every Jonathan Adler in the world who found the spirit to defy his naysayer, there are thousands of creative souls who were not so lucky-- and had their creativity snuffed out of them at an early age by the "art police", whether it was a parent, a teacher, or some other person of "authority". Whenever one of those souls crosses my path, I always tell them there are no rules to creativity, be persistent, let that inner child loose and PLAY! Thanks for this great interview which shows what can happen when the inner creative child runs wild and free! The world is a much more beautiful place for it.
Thank you! I am taking the following quote ->"Jonathan: I was the most scatterbrained, impractical, carefree craftsperson ever to walk the face of the earth and somehow I managed to make it. If I did it, you can, too." And hanging it right over my desk. Not that I am ever any of those things *rolling eyes with a little snicker* Again and again thank you for your wonderful work and inspiring article!
This is very inspiration and makes me want to strive to do better!
i cherish my early Adler pieces, even keeping my bridge work in one of his covered dishes! I've always been thrilled he and Simon found each other!
You're never "too" old to do what you love, or better yet, to find out what you love. Some people can go their whole lives and not love what they do. It is a beautiful thing when one gets to do what they love. Awesome and inspiring!
This is SO great and I, too, love the naysayer story. You showed them I'd say! Fun AND chic really resonated with me as well...how brilliant is THAT!? Yay Jonathan Adler!
Great article! Jonathan Adler's designs are so fun and whimsical. I love popping into his shops in NYC. I love that he had a nemesis to work against and that he has found someone to share the remote with. Love is so simple and yet, as he shows, so beautiful!
What a great spirit you bring to your craft. I first fell in love with your work, years ago, while working at a furniture store that carried a few of your pieces. I've followed you ever since. Your positive attitude towards your professor's advice resonates with me on many levels and I could agree more! Sometimes it's just what you need to keep the fire burning and it makes every accomplishment just a little bit sweeter with that internal "told you so" moment of reflection. Great interview and best wishes to your continued success!
I like him alot so it was fun to read an interview on etsy....another inspiring interview. Thanks!
I love love love to hear these stories of people who've made it with their talent- and it's these stories I like best, where the person was >this< close to falling down. I remember seeing Adler's work in Elle Decor UK waaaaaaaaaaay back in the early 90s, I'm so excited to see he's still going and making an empire out of it! We should all remember these tales when we're on the bottom rung, and that so much in this world has started from nothing.
A fun inside look at Jonathan Adler. I've always appreciated his nods to mid-century norwegian ceramics. Great photo at the potter's wheel, and in white pants no less! You are very brave or must have a lot of white pants! Thanks for the story!
Congrats for the interview, Karen! It's so inspiring! All of us start a bit confused in the creative world. At the beginning you're so lost....! I really like to know people that achieve their dreams!! :) I highlighted a sentence during my reading: I was an outlier, and it was a creative place to be. :D Thank you so much for the interview!
Dear Jonathan, I just adore your sophisticated and quirky style. I LOVE my Utopia Teapot, she's so charming. I wish you and Simon much happiness.
Thanks for interviewing an inspirational and gifted artist.
To allow ourselves the freedom to be ourselves...Without FEAR is no small thing. An approach to design that goes beyond philosophy. Maybe that's something that can't be taught in a classroom but what if it was....Raise your glass high to those who learn and help others learn to be themselves.
Beautiful work! And to throw it all in pristine white pants, he's my hero. Thank you, Karen!
Wonderfully inspirational - well done Jonathon for ignoring the "advice" of his pottery teacher!
Love this interview! I've always been a fan of his work, and the naysayer advice - so true!
*slightly puzzled* whilst it's an interesting article, why is it specifically featured as part of the UK Blog, with a rider about the Pinterest Competition, when the Competition can only be entered by USA residents? After all, every global Etsian has access to the Main Blog, so why's it need a special push in a local domestic blog for people who CAN'T JOIN IN THE COMP? On the other hand, I like the way that of the 68 pins in the Competition, 2 are adverts, 17 are for Mr Adler's products which can't be bought using the key prize of the $1K gift card and another 17 or 18 are for non-USA shops, where again the Gift Card can't be used - leaving only 31 pins actually relevant to the major part of the prize. As usual I'm taking the approach of joining in the fun, even though I'm excluded from winning: because eventually if enough of us do it, someone somewhere might notice that we like joining in. And would like to do so within the rules?
Great work, great interview. Naysayer as inspiration, so true sometimes.
Very inspiring!! Love the style and the colors!
It just shows that sometimes even the opinions of so-called experts are not always true....kudos to Jonathan Adler for continuing his craft, despite what his former pottery teacher said about him having no talent!
Very inspirational story of starting from nothing and making your own success :) And Liberace is adorable!
I remember Adler from the Brown and RISD days! I knew he would make it big!
Pottery was one of my first love ! Love the form and function of your work.
Delightful and charming interview! Love Jonathan Adler's work and style. Thanks for sharing!
I love the bit about the naysayer, pottery instructor, I know I've had one of these in my past (well, not pottery instructor, but definitely naysayer, art instructor). Jonathon's pieces are indeed both whimsical & classic, thank you for sharing this interview with us.
I can relate to that. ...... The first sixteen years of my life were naysay all the way until i left school, took my life, literally, into my own hands and the next fifty five years have been one great barrel load of yesses and still counting. As an artist criticism can be useful but it should not rule.
This was a fantastic interview I especially enjoyed his answer "I was the most scatterbrained, impractical, carefree craftsperson ever to walk the face of the earth and somehow I managed to make it. If I did it, you can, too." Lovely to see someone make a life with something they love!
I have been a fan of Jonathan Adler for a long time. I saw an interview with Jonathan on TV and was inspired by his enthusiasm and humility. He made me feel like I could follow my dreams and make them reality. Thank you Jonathan Adler!
Love the interview! Great to see someone loving what they do!
I've been a long admirer of Jonathan Adler's work (and I'm a very happy owner of several of his early pieces from the Relief collection). This interview was a joy to read and I loved hearing his personal story—what he says about naysayers is absolutely true! I'm so happy to be following my own path and pursuing what I want to do.
Jonathan Adler's interview is truly inspiring. I love his work! He is a perfect example of what happens when you folllow your bliss.
I really enjoyed reading this interview. I love how you turned negative energy into a postitive!
Thanks to Jonathan for this encouraging words, and for the awesome ceramic pill canisters too!
Thank you for this interview! I really needed to read this!!
Great interview! It's great hearing that others can turn the negativity of a past teacher into something motivating!
Lovely and inspiring article! Congrats to you!!
I needed to read this. Art is so significant in our society and yet it is treated as if it is irrelevant. It has always been through art thatI feel the happiest. There are too many critics out there who know nothing but the 'rules.' true art has no rules, but what ones heart dictates. We are unique, we have different views on things. It saddens me that there are so many out there who do not understand that art is an important way to life. Reading this is encouraging. I am happy for Adler. I do what I do because I need to do it. It's when I am most alive. I pray that I will be as blessed someday to live off it as he has been. Very inspiring.
Great inspirational article! Continued success to you and family, Jonathan!
He said, "Etsy is doing The Lords work."
I have always adored him. Thank you for sharing this article with us!
So much respect for this man! An inspiration for creative types working to succeed on their own terms. And then I found out he was married to Simon Doonan- ♥ him too (one of the best things about early ANTM episodes)!
WOW it's hard to imagine he was “failing and unemployable" This gives me hope!!!
Great advise. Thanks for the article.
Awesome interview, I am very happy that you stuck with your art work in spite of those comments!!!!
I found a great deal of inspiration in the words of Jonathon Adler - staying true to oneself, despite numerous setbacks & thoughtless or short-sighted commentary from others indicates that it can indeed all work out in the end through conviction and perseverance. Lessons for us all.
You were lucky to be able to stick to your passion at such a young age. I hope other young people are inspired by your story.
I love his "failing and unemployable" comments. It makes him so human and so easy to connect to. Thank you so much for being an inspiration to just get out there and work hard at your dreams! On a side note- I just moved in with the best person on the entire planet, and we're melding out lives together. We're decorating our new loft and it's so overwhelming and crazy sorting through two of everything and figuring out what our style is going to be. It's nice to draw some inspiration from Jonathan. "If I did it, you can, too." AMEN!!
What a fabulous interview! I love Jonathan Adler and his amazing style - so fresh and modern...very inspiring!
So many of you have commented on Jonathan calling himself " scatterbrained, impractical, and carefree." As an example, here's a story he tells about his early days in business. After Jonathan made his first sale of pottery to Barneys New York, no payment arrived from Barneys. Eventually, he called them to inquire and they said, "Oh, you're the one who didn't send an invoice." That's right, he didn't know what an invoice was. Stories like this give me a tremendous amount of personal comfort, know what I mean?
Great interview! I LOVE Jonathan Adler's style. Thank you for the inspiration! I too am crazy scatterbrained but I just want to make stuff out of the coolest textiles I can find. If someone likes them well enough to buy, then I feel doubly blessed. I got an opportunity to visit Jonathan's shop in SoHo last summer while my husband & I were on vacation visiting our son who lives there & I thought I died and went to heaven! Such a cheerful shop!
I enjoyed the interview with Jonathan Adler - all of his work is beautiful & outstanding!! Liberace is so cute!!
Johnathan - I just saw those awesome hats in the INSTYLE today! I want to pin those!
It takes guts and dedication to do what the world tells you can't do. Congrats on making it through to the other side. I'm inspired, too. After 16 years, we're ready to be an overnight success, but short of that we're happy to keep making a living as two married artists. Can't complain a bit.
i love reading interviews from success creative people. very inspiring!
Really inspiring story! Great interview!
It is nice to read about this. I recently noticed that Jonathan is a designer for Bare minerals cosmetic retailers. What an inspiring story.
I love the image of him working on the pottery. It is amazing to see clay formed into an object. Fantastic post!
How very inspiring. This is a great story to read to help re-fuel your determination to succeed. Thanks!
wonderful interview! hugs to the pup.
Great interview, and how adorable is Liberace!
Always been a fan of Jonathan Adler and his fabulous design easthetic! Thanks for the inspiring interview.
One look at my shop and you know I love Jonathan Adler everything - always will.
Oh my goodness! What breed of dog is Liberace? Cute!
I wish I could put Etsy in a time machine and send it back to 1993 when I was getting my start as a potter. The fact that craftspeople can now control their own distribution is nothing short of a miracle; ^^^^ This is so true. I know because I started a children's clothing business in 1993, and grew it for many years from sewing myself to contracting work, and from selling to neighbors, to art/craft fairs, to local stores, to nationwide boutiques at trade shows. All along, I liked most selling directly to the end consumer, but it was hard to do, until the internet, and Etsy. Great interview, Jonathan. Thanks for talking to us!