Handmade functional items are the most sensual objects of art you can own. A mug, for instance, is a very intimate object. You take sustenance from it. You caress it with the most sensitive receptors in your hands and fingertips. You place your lips softly on its rim. It's a very personal item. So, if you choose to use handmade functional items, art is an intimate part of your life and it enhances your experience with the simple joy of a cup of coffee, tea or cocoa.

Private studio where I make production and one of a kind pottery and figurative sculpture.

Cone 6 white stoneware

Cone 6

Pots=potter's wheel and sculpture=coil

Altering and then adding underglaze

Yes, when needed

Whimisical

I have it laid out to my specific needs.

Light

More space, more time, and more space

Too many to list

Reclaim my clay

Visit friends far away.

If possible, set up your work space to allow for least travel possible for each stage of making.

Take more breaks, stretch more and don't overwork my body.

I was a teenager, it was squishy.

Speed and accuracy. I throw very fast, thin, and tend to get the size close to what I want it by eyeball.

I look to other artists who use clay in creative new ways to inspire me to do the same.

Deborah Bedwell, who introduced me to a national forum of clay and has been a good friend since we met.

Gorilla's, Billie Holiday, Lizzo, O' Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack, Lady Gaga, Beck . . . I'm eclectic.

It's in my blood. I can't not make art.

Brancusi. His ability to scale down the human figure to its basic forms to create serene beauty and yet express so many emotions.

Always, always buy that one piece of equipment that will make your life easier. It may be expensive, but your body will thank you later.

I wouldn't. Clay is like a good friend, you have to learn how it expresses itself and bring out the qualities that you and it possess together.