Clay goes through so many stages before it reaches its final destination of mug, bowl or vase. My favourite stage is the greenware stage, specifically when the clay is bone dry and ready to be fired. It’s here that I am full of hope and possibility. The kiln hasn’t had its wicked way yet. No cracking, blistering or warping. I can see the finished piece exactly as I want it to look. It’s rare that I ever look at a finished piece with the same satisfaction that I do in that early stage. I often photograph my pieces just before they enter the kiln as a marker of what could have been, and what could still be, if I keep at it.