Fascinated by the Moon, inspired by Korean Moon Jars,
Compelled to coil clay and to
Explore the possibilities with colour and smoke.

Inspired by the traditional Korean Moon Jar, with their pure white surfaces and the Moon herself, I explore the possibilities arising from the combination of glaze and smoke working together. By smoke firing Moon Jars that have been glaze fired – with areas of the surface left glaze free to absorb the smoke, I can create wonderful contrasts between the colourful, shiny glazes and the matt smoke effects. I also raku fire – I look to have a heavy carbonisation of naked clay alongside highly coloured glazes.

My Moon Jars are hand built – using coils and hemi-spherical moulds. I use white earthenware clay and a small palette of crackle glazes I have developed myself together with commercial glazes. Glaze is applied using natural sponges. I occasionally open up the spherical form by tearing the leather hard clay, exposing the interior of the sphere, giving another surface to play with.