“All materials have intrinsic and characteristic form elements; to discover these and to be able to use them not only technically to their advantage but also as a part of the sum total of form-expression of a piece of pottery is well worth the potter’s study.” From Pottery, Form and Expression, by Marguerite Wildenhain
I work in series to learn a form’s needs and possibilities, its potential and limits in size, scale, weight, and thickness - and how these dimensions interact. Through repetition with variation I produce bodies of work in which individual pieces become components of a whole.
In a kiln fueled by wood, flying ash clings to the surface of each piece, fluxing clay to form a glaze.
Experience teaches me what clays to use and how to position each piece in the kiln. Each firing is different; the results are determined by the wood, the heat, and the path of the ash.
I try to capture the specific properties and characteristics of the clay and firing environment in each of my pieces, letting it become a record of how it was made.