I started pottery lessons at Potters Place over 30 years ago and it became an obsession.

A lot of my pottery involves things to do with nature. Scenery. Impressions of flowers, pine needles, things like that. So I get a lot of inspiration from the natural world around me.

I prefer the wheel but I do handbuilding as well. Whichever forming method I use, I enjoy experimenting with glazes. The results of glazing are the most rewarding part for me.

I actually hate glazing but I do enjoy experimenting with glazes. I like to try different glaze combinations that haven’t been tried to see what the result is. To me that’s one of the most enjoyable parts of pottery – creating something new and different that I haven’t done before, or haven’t seen before.

It depends on the day. Making pottery can be relaxing. It can be rewarding. But it can also be frustrating.

You may expect a certain outcome and end up with something you did not expect. This may end up as a pleasant surprise, and open your eyes to something you previously had not considered.

…that I don’t wedge my clay. I cut it off and throw it on the wheel. Obviously if it was recycled I would have to wedge it. But if it’s new, I just use it out of the bag. I developed bad tendonitis in my forearms and my wrists many years ago and I could not wedge. I used to have to ask people to wedge my clay for me. Once I stopped wedging the tendonitis went away.

Clay that you buy is pre-pugged. So I just cut off a square, make it into a ball and throw it. I have very good success with that. So if you have that type of issue you either need to hire a friend or use commercial clay. Take a lot of Advil but don’t quit pottery.

This plate looks like a scene. I don’t know what I like about it, I just like it. It shows nature. I like the way the colors blend together. It makes me feel peaceful when I look at it.

I like it so much that it inspired a whole line of things that I’ve done over the years.