I discovered Potters Place through the Show & Sales when the studio was in Walpole. It was there that I first saw Henriette’s pieces. I was fascinated by them. They are so unpredictable. Their freedom is what I liked.

We bought several of her and other potter’s pieces for ourselves and as gifts. And I started thinking that it would be fun to try making pottery.

For me it’s interesting to try a lot of different things. So I’m creating constructed, engineered pieces that are geometrical. I’m also trying some free-form, more fluid pieces. And I’m trying different styles with glazing including sgraffito and creating my own stencils using mylar film. What I like most is that I can try different styles so all my pottery is not the same.

I am mostly a handbuilder. Some pieces are very geometric. Some are more free-form. For me the challenge is that I get an idea in my head and I want to kiow if I can create it or not. Can I actually make what I am imagining?

It’s not a challenge - it’s enjoyment, right? I like construction. I like engineering thinking. So when I make something, I think about the shape, how I will put it together, the sequence of events. It’s how I work things out in my head and then try to construct it with clay. Hand-building fits my engineering personality.

I love the versatility of clay's character. Clay could be stiff enough to hold rigid forms of geometrical constructions. But if you manage to unleash the clay's free spirit, it flows and folds on its own. You just need to follow the clay's lead, only slightly accenting the details. And you can see lightness, and fluidity, and movement in ceramic pieces.

Sometimes I have something in mind but when I make it, it turns out absolutely differently. For example this started as a free-standing vase that turned itself into a wall hanging. My mind just has to be open to the structure and flow of the clay.

Potters Place is full of energy. It is a very comfortable, pleasant environment. You really forget the world outside. And there are so many expert potters here who are willing to give their time and knowledge to consult and advise. It’s very conducive to learning and creativity.

My favorite piece at the moment is this free-form bowl. It represents internal freedom and movement in the clay. The glaze adds to it because it accents the changes in shape. The random movement of the glaze is so interesting. So alive. It has vibrancy. The glaze on this piece makes it seem like glass rather than pottery.