My work is ‘organic’ and influenced by Japan’s wabi-sabi philosophy that celebrates naturalness. I work intuitively, hoping to reflect aspects of Nature’s incredible energies, the flows and processes, the continuous change, the patterns created by water and wind, the forming and transforming of the earth in mountains, landscapes, rocks, and the growth patterns and forms of trees and plants. I have learned mostly from working with other potters and love to try new ways of shaping vessels, experimenting with different clays and firing techniques, playing with the unpredictable interactions of earth, air, water and fire. I tend to follow whatever begins to happen as I’m making, letting things be, which is often not what was planned. And then unloading my pots from the kiln there is always the likelihood of surprise, of the unexpected. Each piece of work is unique, unrepeatable, and I hope offers something that challenges expectations, something new or unusual to look at, respond to, touch. For Open Studios I am showing my ceramics alongside high quality traditional photographs by Jo Cound (see Jo’s entry for more on her work). We are both focused on and inspired by the beauties of Nature.