My creative process depends on the day and can feel like meditation or prayer, especially with small children around. I started pottery through a high school class and learning from my mom, who also did pottery, along with following potters on YouTube. Though I’m mostly self-taught, I did take a class once, which helped me a lot. Looking back, I see how much I’ve grown since I started selling my pottery, and while I didn’t feel confident in the beginning, it’s been a great measure of my progress.

Pottery has become a big part of my life, and teaching it is what I love most—not as much the production side, but I still do it to support myself. I also want to create a space where people can come and talk about pottery, similar to the experience at Canal Park, where you can see a glassblower in action.

moon jars

These pots are a traditional form of Korean pottery, quite old and typically made in two pieces that are joined together. I’ve been trying to make them in one piece, though I’m not sure exactly what inspired me to do that. There’s just something about them that really catches your eye—the sheer volume and their simplicity. They're not overly intricate, though some of mine are a little quirky, which I love. There’s also this almost coral-like texture in the modern interpretation, where the surface is designed to reflect the moon.

In traditional moon jars, the goal is more about making them white to resemble the moon. The name “moon jar” comes from the fact that the shape is globe-like, almost spherical, and in the traditional form, they are made of kaolin clay. Nowadays, people make them from whatever clay is available. I’ve been experimenting with different clay bodies, but I mostly stick with what I have on hand, which is what I use for all my other work. I don’t feel the need to use a special type of clay, though traditionally, they would be made with kaolin or a blend of clays.