Early on in our relationship,  I mentioned to John that I collected ceramics. “Oh yes” he said “who do you collect?”. “David Leach” I said, thinking ‘he will never have heard of him’. “Ah yes” said John “son of Bernard, Lowerdown Pottery”.

In retrospect that might have been the moment I decided to marry him.

We still do have a small collection of ceramics – John loves John Maltby, and I still love David Leach’s work, and we have collected others as we go. Here’s a Leach that we have – absolutely wonderful.

Of course if we had endless resources, then we would be buying Hans Coper, Lucy Rie and Hamada. When we win the lottery, eh?

Aaany way, what this collection and admiration sparked within me was a need for me to create some of my own and to understand the processes. I enrolled in an evening class in the UK while I did my contract work, which was brilliant for me and which sadly is no longer supported as Adult Learning, and started creating.

Of course, now back in France, I am in the process of setting up a studio and building my equipment and resources as well as learning on the job. I am very lucky that a new neighbour has recently moved in who has taught Ceramics (hi Karen!) and is helping me on my way. You could spend a lifetime learning only about glazes and surfaces and still only have learned a small fraction of what is needed.

Some of my first work has been abstract – a ‘form’ – as I have learned to call it ( a bit pretentious) but it is such an interesting thing to do – making an abstract. In other words making a physical form (there i go) which does not represent anything. It’s hard – the minute it starts looking like something you have to think about how to make it not look like anything. And then for this one which I thought was abstract, the first thing most people say is ‘is it a boat?’. Anyway this one is an abstract form, in stoneware, with manganese oxide and a dolomite glaze. It’s going in the gravel garden on a plinth. I confidently expect the hornets to build a nest in it.