Hap Céramique, happy ceramics made in South of France

But Hap Céramique is above all a promise to embark on a ceramic adventure through ceramic workshops and ceramic painting, such as the one carefully orchestrated a while ago at La fille des vignes in Uzès.

Do you like to know more? Well... so do we! Follow us in our interview with the artist!

Let's chat

Hello Charlotte,
We are delighted to welcome you on our blog.
To begin with, could you introduce yourself to our readers in a few words?

After 15 years in the pharmaceutical industry, I wanted to embark on a more personal project that was ultimately more in tune with my feelings, my family life and my new aspirations for well-being.

I might as well admit it right away, I don't think I regret having radically changed sectors to now live at a pace that suits me... 1000%!

Hap Ceramique... How did your brand come about? And why did you choose to set up shop just a stone's throw from Uzès?

It all started with a few lessons with François Mandin, a ceramist, in his workshop in Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie. Very quickly, I wanted to go further and practise on a daily basis, so I took the plunge and taught myself. I experiment a lot, I search, I start again, and I leave a lot of room for intuition — that's what gives each piece its character.

I've been living in Uzès for ten years now. I'm from Nîmes, I studied in Montpellier and then Toulouse, and then I settled down near Uzès. It's a great place to live, and above all, craftsmanship is really valued here. The funny thing is that at the time, I had no idea of my artistic abilities.

Hap is a name that sums up the energy with which I created the brand. In English, it's short for happy, but in Norwegian, håp means hope. I liked the combination of the two: the hope of daring to take the plunge, of believing that I could build a brand, and the desire to bring more joy into everyday life.

Through Hap, I want above all to make people happy: when they hold a piece, I want them to fall in love with it, but also to be able to visualise the workshop, the craftsmanship, the time and the materials. I want each creation to tell a simple and true story – and to accompany them in their everyday lives, around the table, in their homes, in those moments that matter.

How do you work on your collections? What inspires you?

I don't always start with a very structured mood board – I tend to take a more instinctive approach. For a long time, I had a tendency to want to do everything, try everything, explore everything... and over time I've tried to be a bit more structured, but without losing the freedom of movement.

Often, a collection is born from a sensation: a material, a colour, a light, a memory. I also really like the principle of collaboration, because the perspective of another creative person opens up unexpected paths and leads me to forms or associations that I would not have imagined on my own.

My inspiration comes from my travels, but also from everyday life. My last trip to Morocco, for example, was a real eye-opener: it reinforced and refined the universe of my Origine collection, based on terracotta and white earthenware, mixed clay, very organic. And then I draw inspiration from everywhere: a plate I'm eating from, a mixture of colours on a table, a façade, a fabric, a shadow in the sun...

Sometimes, all it takes is a ‘cocktail’ of colours that catches my eye and inspires me to become the starting point for a new piece.

What are the main differences between working with ceramics, earthenware, stoneware...

Ceramics is a broad term: it encompasses all practices involving clay, earth, glazes and firing. Within this family, earthenware is a finer, more delicate clay, fired at around 980 to 1050°C, while stoneware is denser and more robust, fired at a higher temperature, in my workshop around 1250°C. I work with both, which requires a good understanding of their reactions, but I love this richness.

I also use chamotte clays for texture. And I particularly like mixed clay: by mixing two clays, I obtain a natural marbling effect where the material ‘draws’ the piece, often simply enhanced by a transparent glaze.


And as for your choice of colours...

I choose my colours as one might compose a palette of memories: a journey, a sun-warmed façade, a spice, a vegetable from the market, a flower from the garden. My inspiration is very everyday and very sensory.

I also like to work with a more sober and mineral palette, particularly in stoneware and chamotte stoneware: natural tones, beiges, off-whites, raw earths. And often, I let the material do some of the work: with mixed clay and marbled effects, the colour comes directly from the mixture of clays, then is simply revealed by a transparent glaze.

It's as if the piece ‘takes on’ its colour naturally, rather than receiving it.
 

You are now diversifying Hap's offering by presenting decorative objects and textiles directly from Morocco, a world deeply inspired by your travels and Mediterranean craftsmanship, both warm and colourful. Why is this and... any idea of what will you be presenting in the future?

It's not a change of direction, but rather a natural extension: I love creating atmospheres. Morocco is a powerful source of inspiration, with its warm colours and rich craftsmanship, but my sourcing won't stop there.

I want to bring a wider selection of objects and textiles from different Mediterranean regions (and beyond) to Hap, always chosen for their material, patina and authenticity. I will offer pieces in very limited quantities – cushions, throws, rugs, baskets, decorative objects, pieces designed to interact naturally with my ceramics, like a house that tells the story of a journey.

Do you participate in interior design fairs? Where can we find you outside of Villa Azura in Uzès?

For the moment, I do not participate in any trade shows yet: I prefer to first structure the workshop, consolidate the organisation and, eventually, build a small team. Trade shows are a real goldmine of opportunities and encounters, but I want to participate at the right time, with production and logistics that are solid enough to meet demand without spreading myself too thin.

In the meantime, you can find my work in Uzès at Villa Azura and by visiting my workshop in Sagriès. I also regularly share my news, pop-up sales and collaborations on my website and Instagram.

Do you organise ceramics workshops, such as the recent one at La fille des vignes, and courses? Who are they aimed at?

Yes, I regularly organise workshops, such as the ceramic painting workshop held at La fille des vignes in early February.

The principle is simple and very accessible: you come and decorate a piece that has already been fired once – known as a biscuit – with special paints. It's a creative, convivial experience, ideal for families or friends, and open to all (beginners and the curious alike). The aim is to have fun, explore colours and leave with a personalised piece.

I also organise ceramic painting workshops directly in my studio in Sagriès, on request. These are open to anyone who wants to create a ceramic-themed event: hen parties, birthdays, weekends with friends, team building or even a creative break during a stay in the region. Organisation and bookings can be made easily via Instagram or on my website.

The address: Hap Céramique. Where to find Hap Céramique: Villa Azura, 8 place d'Austerlitz, Uzès. Find Hap Céramique on Instagram.