About

About Flotsam & Jetsam Studio

Greetings, I’m Charis, a maker of whimsical objects and illustrated things. This is a small independent studio (small & at home) where ideas take shape in many forms — illustrated, sculpted, and bound by hand.

Everything here is created by me, from beginning to end. I work across different mediums, including digital illustration in Photoshop, polymer clay, ceramic clay, and bookbinding. Each process feels like its own kind of storytelling, and together they form a world of objects that are whimsical, detailed, and made with intention.

A large part of my work is inspired by vintage scientific botanical illustrations — the kind found in old natural history books, where plants were studied with both precision and wonder. That influence runs through my botanical art prints, which are some of my most loved pieces.

Alongside illustration, I create small sculptural pieces like polymer clay earrings — tiny strawberries, teeth, pumpkins, and other playful forms — each one a little character of its own. I also hand-bind artist journals using quality art paper, designed for creativity, reflection, and everyday use.

My ceramics and candles continue this same thread of making — functional objects with a sense of ritual and atmosphere. Cauldron mugs and candles bring a gentle, whimsical nod to cozy, magical living.

I also take part in local Comic Cons, where I share fan art and connect with other creatives, which continues to inspire the playful side of my work.

The name of the studio itself carries a piece of personal meaning. It is drawn partly from a chapter title in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, and partly from a nautical term. When I moved from Johannesburg to Cape Town in the years after Covid, I often felt like I was drifting — like floating debris trying to find its place and rebuild in unfamiliar waters. The name became a way of holding that in a gentler form: a sense of movement, distance, and eventually, grounding.

At its core, this studio is about curiosity. About making things that feel a little nostalgic, a little magical, and very human.

Everything is made slowly, thoughtfully, and always with the hope that it finds its way into someone’s daily life as a small moment of joy.