JCD Ceramics is much more than a brand, – it is a story of rediscovery, self-expression, and quiet strength. Behind every birch cup and sea-inspired vase is JC Donovan herself: the founder, creator, and heart of the studio.
A scientist by training and artist by instinct, Donovan never imagined she would one day be shaping clay for a living. With a background in pharmaceuticals and biology, she spent years pursuing a practical and “acceptable” path that her family approved of. “I never thought art was for me,” she says. “I didn’t grow up doing it. I was focused on science.”
But everything changed in 2015, when she joined a ceramics class through Wayland Park & Recreation, led by longtime local teacher Lisa Dolliver at the Wayland Art Center. What started as a fun outlet quickly became a source of joy and eventually, transformation. Much like arranging a bouquet, Donovan found a kind of meditative rhythm in shaping clay.
When the program shut down in 2019 and the pandemic hit, Donovan didn’t stop. She started driving to Community Kiln in Framingham. When that shut down, she set up a small studio in her basement and poured herself into pottery. She says she’s now back at Community Kiln, crediting the community there as a major part of her pottery journey – a diverse group of individuals who are connected through art and ceramics. With time, curiosity, and plenty of trial and error, Donovan found herself drawn to pieces that echoed the natural world – birch trees, marine life, organic textures. “It just speaks to me,” she says. “It’s the first thing I’ve felt truly passionate about since I was 30 and doing taekwondo.” (Fun fact: she’s a second-degree black belt)
Pottery helped her through COVID, and it became more than just a hobby. Slowly, Donovan started sharing her work with others, gifting pieces to friends. “I never set out to sell,” she says. “But people started asking if they could buy them. I was blown away.” Prototype birch vases for her best friends in 2020 (born from an autocorrected text that turned a funny term of endearment “bitches” into “birches”) turned into a signature style.
Pottery for me is what flowers are to you,” she says. “I just lose myself in it. It doesn’t feel like work. And I’m still humbled every time someone wants to take a piece home.
JC Donovan, founder of JCD Ceramics
Still, Donovan is thoughtful and deliberate about every piece. Each item is tested carefully to ensure durability and quality, whether it is holding your favorite tea or a beautiful bouquet of flowers. She carefully sands each piece to a smooth finish to prevent surface scratches and tests for proper vitrification to guard against the seeping that can sometimes occur in handmade ceramics. “You can put it on your grandma’s dining table and not worry,” she says. “I’m really proud of that.”
Today, Donovan is as busy as she wants to be, offering a limited number of pieces and a few thoughtful collaborations. By next year, she hopes to debut a STEMS-branded vase featuring our logo in a custom design, building upon a collaboration that is rooted in shared values of artistry and natural beauty.
What makes JCD Ceramics special is not just the craftsmanship, it is the story behind it. A story of a woman who did not think she could be an artist but followed the quiet pull anyway. Who found peace in clay, purpose in process, and community in the most unexpected places.
