Article: Everinspired with Shukran: Clay, Patience, and Everyday Stories in Australia
Everinspired with Shukran: Clay, Patience, and Everyday Stories in Australia
"I learn from my mistakes and try again, wait patiently each time and work on it until the final item matches the idea I had on my head."
Every piece of art has a story, even before it is told.
EverInspired, an initiative by Ever Lasting, was created to celebrate designers, illustrators, and creatives whose work is guided by depth, care, and meaning. Artists whose work spoke to us, and who we hope will speak to you too.
You see, our world has always been about more than products. It is about the feeling of home, the quiet comfort of well-made things, and timeless design that carries a story. Through EverInspired, we honour the hands behind the work, the highs and the lows that shape each journey. Every turn, every twist, every line, every chapter that comes together to form an artist’s story.
Table of contents
Where It All Began: Coffee, Clay, and Curiosity
So, who is the artist we are sitting down with today? My dear readers, I am so glad you asked.
Let us introduce you to the elusive, the thoughtful, the quietly brilliant ceramic artist behind the clay.
This is Shukran.
Shukran’s journey with ceramics did not begin in a classroom or a long-held plan. It began with curiosity, access, and a deep love for coffee.
Ceramics had always fascinated her, but it is an expensive medium, one that can feel out of reach. That changed when she discovered a studio in Collingwood that opened its doors to young creatives, offering not just tools, but possibility.
Naturally, she started with mugs. Because coffee, for Shukran, is more than a drink. It is connection. It is sitting with loved ones, cozy rug underneth your feet, fingers wrapped around a warm mug, a heart happy, a soul loved. It is also just the feeling of holding something warm during quiet moments alone. And clay became a way to turn those rituals into something tangible.
Inspired by Nature, Interpreted in Her Own Way
Nature also plays a quiet but steady role in Shukran’s work. Not in obvious forms or traditional motifs, but in patterns, contrasts, and the restraint felt in her pieces.
She is drawn to monochrome moments in the natural world, the way repetition and simplicity can feel grounding. Her work leans contemporary, favouring clean forms over literal references. Instead of copying what she sees, she reinterprets it, filtering nature through her own lens.
The result is ceramics that feel familiar, yet distinctly her own
A Process Led by Feeling (and a Little Fussiness)
When you ask Shukran about her creative process, she tells you that she is fussy. In the best way.
She often starts by noticing what she wishes were different. A form she loves, but with a pattern she would change. A design she admires, but on a shape she would never choose. From there, the ideas begin to unfold.
Once inspired, she works quickly and thoroughly. Multiple versions. Different sizes. Patterns. Glazes. Because ceramics asks for patience, she gives herself options from the start. Time passes between making and holding, so exploration happens early.
And when something clicks, she leans in. Her striped to-go cups are proof of that. A design she loved so much, she could not stop making it.
Learning to Let Go (and Begin Again)
Ceramics has not always been kind to Shukran. Especially in the beginnings. In fact, she hated how much patience it demanded.
Clay taught her something she did not expect. Detachment. You can spend months on a piece only for it to crack in the kiln and become unusable. At first, this was frustrating. But over time? Over time it became freeing.
After two years, she learned to hold expectations lightly. To do her best, learn from mistakes, and begin again. Compared to her earlier work in oil painting, where pressure and perfection led to burnout, clay offered a quieter pace.
One that rewards persistence, not perfection.
"I feel warmth and content to know that art exists and i can make art and share it. I hope that when people look at my ceramics they appreciate the art and don't see it as "just a cup."
When Shukran holds a ceramic piece made by another artist, she feels appreciation. Warmth. Contentment. A quiet joy in knowing that art exists, that it can be shared, and that there are countless creatives out there making beauty by hand.
This is what she hopes for her own work.
That it is not seen as just a cup. But as a piece of art that lives with you. Someone's story becoming your own.
So do imperfections matter? Of course they do. They matter the most.
Shukran loves seeing small differences between handmade pieces. A line slightly off. An indent where fingers once pressed. These details remind her that a real person made the object you are holding.
They invite you to imagine the process, the time, the care, the effort. They turn everyday objects into something more meaningful. Something deeply human, so in flawed in fact that it becomes something beautiful.
Some EverInspiring pieces to browse while you pause to sip your coffee
Looking Ahead: Making a Home Through Making
Recently moving into her own home has opened a new chapter for Shukran.
She dreams of expanding her skills, exploring new forms, and creating a full dinner set for herself. Plates, bowls, homeware pieces, all made by her own hands. The idea of using something she created every day, in her own space, excites her deeply.
It feels like growth. Independence. A full-circle moment.
Final Thoughts: Warm Beginnings
If we were to leave you with one lesson from Shukran's story, the lesson that stayed with us most is that the things we live with, surround ourselves with, matter. That patience has value. That imperfection carries beauty. And that art does not need to be loud to be meaningful.
In clay, in coffee, in quiet moments at home, her work speaks softly. And in doing so it speaks volumes.
A reminder, that a home is not rushed but it is built, slowly, from the things we choose to hold close, from the stories those things choose to tell. To those of you still here, to those of you still listening. This was Shukran's story, we would love to tell yours next.
Shukran’s ceramics are inspired by everyday rituals, contemporary form, and subtle patterns found in nature
Her creative process values patience, iteration, and learning through imperfection
You can find out more about Shukran and browse her beautiful collection here
Check Out More EverInspired Stories
FAQ
Where can I find more of Shukran’s work, and is it available for purchase?
You can explore more of Shukran’s work on her website here, where she shares her latest pieces, collections, and creative process. Availability varies, as each piece is handmade in small batches. We recommend following her directly on her Instagram here to stay up to date on new releases and restocks.
How can I collaborate with Ever Lasting or share my story through EverInspired?
EverInspired is always open to discovering creatives whose work aligns with our values of thoughtful design, storytelling, and meaning. If you are a designer, illustrator, or creative and feel your journey resonates, we would love to hear from you. You can reach out to Ever Lasting through our website or social channels to start the conversation.
Our email: collabs.everlastingfabrics@gmail.com
What can artists just starting out take from Shukran’s journey?
Shukran’s story reminds us that creative paths are rarely linear. Patience matters. Mistakes are part of the process. Working slowly, learning from imperfection, and staying connected to why you create can shape work that feels both personal and lasting.
Anything We Missed?
Thanks for reading till the end — we hope it brought a little calm and inspiration to your day.
Discover more: Inspiration Blog · New Arrivals ·
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