My studio is part of how I work. Colors, materials, things collected in nature, photographs and older pieces of my work sit alongside whatever I’m making.

Seeing these things together often gives me ideas, and even something that’s been there for years can make me look again.

I usually start with a loose idea and see what happens at the wheel. Working with the clay helps me figure out what I want to do, and the idea often changes as I go.

I keep returning to simple forms. A small change in proportion or the line of a curve can make quite a difference. I spend time on those details, leaving room for colour and texture to become part of the piece.

Glazing brings together experience, tests and a little guesswork. I have an idea of where I want to go, but make many of the decisions with the piece in front of me. Even then, I won’t know quite how it will turn out until I open the kiln.

That mix of familiar work and things I haven’t quite figured out keeps me interested. There is usually something that surprises me, or makes me curious enough to try again.