Drive down any rural road on Vancouver Island and you鈥檙e sure to spot a farm stand with fresh seasonal produce, eggs, even milk and other dairy products. But one Nanaimo-area roadside stand offers more unconventional goods 鈥� pottery.

The brainchild of artist Lilach Lotan, the blue and yellow pottery stand is parked in the artist鈥檚 front yard on Jingle Pot Road, a busy Nanaimo thoroughfare. The teardrop-shaped, trailer-like stand, which was built by a friend, attracts drive-by and repeat customers.

Inside the stand, Lilach markets her colourful turquoise and teal mugs and cups, olive oil bottles 鈥� in a range of glossy glazes 鈥� ramen bowl and chopstick sets, large salad bowls and plates of several different sizes. Each piece references Lilach鈥檚 love of Vancouver Island鈥檚 landscape and ecosystems.

鈥淚 am inspired by the rugged coastlines, lush forests and serene beaches,鈥� she says.

Lilach makes all of her own glazes, with each piece reflecting the organic shapes, textures and colours found in nature.

Buyers can purchase the handmade, wheel-thrown items by sending an e-transfer, inserting cash in a box by the doorbell, or by ringing the doorbell for Lilach to come outside with a credit card machine. A sign urging visitors to smile cheerfully indicates that there is a video camera affixed to the trailer, which deters theft and helps Lilach know when to come outdoors to greet customers.

鈥淚 can see if they are unsure or hesitant about how to proceed with a purchase,鈥� she says.

The stand is typically open every day during daylight hours, and can be closed, locked and covered. Both GST and PST are included in the prices for simplicity, and wrapping paper and bags are available if the buyer wants for a smooth, contact-free purchase.

鈥淚 wanted to remove that barrier of entering a studio or a booth,鈥� says Lilach. 鈥淚 absolutely love farm stands, so I thought, 鈥榃hy not? If they can sell cucumbers, why couldn鈥檛 I sell pottery?鈥�

Pottery was a natural choice of profession for the visual artist and photographer, although she actually studied ceramics by default.

鈥淔rom the moment I first touched clay, I was captivated by its versatility and potential,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he cool, malleable texture felt like an invitation to create. I quickly fell in love with the process of transforming raw earth into functional and beautiful forms.鈥�

Born in Lithuania, Lilach moved to Vancouver Island with her former partner 21 years ago.

鈥淲ithin 10 minutes of landing on the island, we were exploring all of the artist studios,鈥� she remembers.

During one of these studio visits, they met Josie and Vic Duffhues of JoVic Pottery, near Yellow Point.

鈥淭hey were incredibly kind and welcoming,鈥� she remembers. 鈥淲e ended up staying with them for a month and learning about their business.鈥�

That chance meeting would lead Lilach to set up her own pottery studio, first in Ladysmith, and then Nanaimo.

Over the next many years, she travelled to gift shows across North America to market her ceramics. Business flourished, but when her first son was born in 2007, she realized she couldn鈥檛 keep up with the travel demands of her business. The global financial crisis was also a factor in her decision to go back to school and become a nurse.

鈥淧ottery went onto the back burner,鈥� she says.

Her nursing career eventually led Lilach to a position as manager of long-term care at Berwick retirement community, where she worked for 15 years. When she learned two years ago that the facility was closing its long-term care unit, she launched a second business called Pack on Track to help seniors downsize before a move.

鈥淎s a nurse and manager of that unit, I saw the impact of moving for seniors,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about the physical move. A lot of it is that emotional connection with seniors.鈥�

Today, she finds a similar connection to her pottery students and customers. When the management job ended last March, Lilach reignited her pottery business, devising the plan for the pottery stand, which she opened in May 2024, and offering pottery classes.

鈥淪haring my knowledge and passion with others enriches my practice and creates a vibrant community of artists,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 believe teaching is a reciprocal experience where I learn as much from my students as they do from me.鈥�

Lilach also loves meeting locals and tourists and connecting with her customers.

鈥淥ne of my repeat customers told me that when she鈥檚 using my pottery, she can feel my energy in it,鈥� she says. 鈥淔or me, that was just the best compliment.鈥�

Whether she鈥檚 helping a senior move, teaching a class, or attending a pottery show, the little blue and yellow pottery stand just keeps on selling pots.

鈥淚鈥檝e had people drop by for a gift for a teacher on their way to school that morning. Or sometimes, children will come and buy a gift for a parent,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t works whether I鈥檓 home or not. It鈥檚 just been amazing.鈥�

Lilach Lotan Ceramic Art is located at . See .