Jon Almeda ceramic practice is aligned with nature. Or perhaps: an homage to it. The cool dark waters and tall evergreens of the Pacific Northwest and the luscious flora and textures of the ocean in Hawaii, provide inspirations for his color choices and textures. Nature also provides the backdrop of his work. Having created his own small portable pottery wheel, Almeda takes his studio outdoors, creating his unique pieces in the open air and capturing the meditative process in short videos shared online.
But Almeda’s ceramic art doesn’t only stand out in terms of scenery. It’s its size that really knocks it out of the park. A self-taught artist, after years of creating large scale pieces, he realized inspiration can also be found in smaller scales. Having tested different clay bodies, made his own tools, and tried new techniques, with each piece Almeda refined the art of miniature pottery.
After 17 years of creating miniatures, Almeda is still challenging himself to improve and to try new things with each kiln load. His finished pieces are often photographed besides items like coins and pencils so as to highlight their small scale. You’d want to follow his Instagram page.
