I have been fascinated by the use of color in clay since the beginning of my career as a potter. I work mainly with Neriage and Nerikomi, two ancient techniques in which modeling and decoration happen at the same time – ceramic pots with marbled surfaces were already popular in early China. The Japanese have expanded those techniques, which later became known by the rest of the world bytheir Japanese names. A generic term for colored clay techniques in English is Agateware.The Neriage process is very intricate. I start with several lumps of white stoneware clay, to which I add oxides or ceramic stains. I make slabs of different colors that are layered into several blocks. Sections of the blocks are cut and attached to form pieces that may have one or several decorative patterns combined on them. I fire my pieces to 2300 F, in an electric kiln. The wheel-thrown colored clay techniques are called Nerikomi (a generic term for it in English is Swirlware); they produce spiral surfaces.
I believe that experimenting and taking chances are inherent to the creative process. Over the past eighteen years, I have experimented with a variety of processes and techniques; in addition to my work in colored clays I also make Stoneware functional and sculptural pieces. My choice for dealing with colored clays comes from my need of diversity. Ceramics is rhythm, joy, increasing investigation; it is the process and the target in a continuous ‘talk’; it is always ‘the piece which I have not done yet’ what thrills me. (Oxford, OH)
