Being nestled away in the peaceful Waitakere Ranges bestows an abundance of creativity. More specifically it’s where Janel Reid the founder and artist behind Okay Ceramics has found her creative calling. Primarily self-taught over nine years, Janel produces a variety of beautiful handmade ceramics and tiles and has produced products for restaurants such as Depot and Culprit. Every piece is delicately crafted and handmade from start to finish. “You can see they’ve been made with love and with care,” she says. “I really enjoy being able to have a freedom, but having a little bit of a parameter. I need some structure but it makes for a really, really cool item in the end.” Each handmade tile tells a unique story, revealing a new character and its natural marks in the changing light of a lively kitchen, its forever new home. In addition to offering ceramics and tiles for purchase, Janel provides hand-building classes. Spend a morning at her studio filled with music, snacks and drinks, and come out after three hours with as many pieces as your creativity (and her clay) allows for. Unleash your inner artistic side even if you haven’t tapped into it yet. All that is required is to bring yourself and an open mind. For the artist, these feelings are rewarding and fulfilling. “[People] come in with this idea that they have no creativity and then they make these amazing things and it’s such a rad experience to be a part of that. That they come out feeling empowered.” Good times and high energy aside, there is a raw and emotional side Janel would like to get across through her work. Outside of Okay Ceramics she is becoming an end-of-life doula and would like to see a crossover to that, so her next step is to unite the two paths, creating work that nourishes the soul. “Going into this end-of-life care, bringing a part of the ceramics and clay work into that – it’s a grounding, very intense emotional feeling which has a spiritual sense to it.” Certainly we find that Okay Ceramics is much more than okay. For ceramics and tiles crafted with love, passion and soul, Janel Reid is the creative force to bring them to life. okayceramics.co.nz, @okay.ceramicist Mia Bennett