My Pottery Journey

My Journey as a Potter: From Childhood Fascination to Functional Art

My journey as a potter began in the most unassuming way; through the quiet presence of my grandmother’s moon jar. This jar has been passed on from generation to generation. As a child, I was fascinated by its shape, the smooth curves of its surface, and the mystery it held as it stored rice wine. That moon jar was more than a vessel; it was a storyteller. Its presence filled my childhood with an appreciation for the handmade and the utilitarian beauty of pottery.

Growing up in the Philippines, I was surrounded by the deep, rusty hues of red clay, a material that was so intrinsic to the culture. Pottery, for many Filipinos, was a way of life before colonization, used to cook, store water, and preserve food. This heritage fascinated me and planted seeds of curiosity in my young mind, though I never imagined it would become such an integral part of my life.

My first love in pottery has always been hand-building. There’s something grounding and intimate about shaping clay with your own hands, forming objects without the intervention of a wheel. It’s a process that feels deeply connected to history and tradition. This love for hand-building led me to seek out pottery classes with sculptor-potters around the world, artists who treat clay as a medium for storytelling and expression. Their techniques inspired me and shaped my approach to creating, even as I ventured into making more functional ceramics.

However, as much as I value the slow, deliberate nature of hand-building, there’s a part of me that wishes I could go back in time and immerse myself in the world of production pottery. If I had known back then that I would one day venture into creating ceramics as a livelihood, I might have enrolled myself under a production potter, learning the discipline of repetition and the art of efficiency. But at the time, the thought of making pottery at such a scale never crossed my mind.

Today, my work reflects this unique journey, a blend of cultural heritage, hand-building techniques + wheel throwing, and my evolving approach to functional ceramics. Every piece I create carries the timeless simplicity that inspires me and the durability that connects it to the traditions of the past. My hope is that these pieces, whether functional or decorative, bring meaning and beauty to the lives of those who use them.

As a pottery teacher, I find immense joy in passing on the craft to others. I strive to inspire my students to connect with clay in their own way, whether through the slow, organic nature of hand-building or the rhythm and repetition of wheel-throwing. My goal is to foster a sense of creativity and exploration while honoring the rich traditions of pottery.

To the person reading this, if you find yourself on a similar journey, I encourage you to seek out a production potter and learn from them. You never know how life’s path will unfold, and you may one day need pottery not just as an art form, but as a mode of living.

More than anything, I hope that my work will stand the test of time. I want my pieces to be cherished, to find a place in people’s homes and hearts, and perhaps one day, to be touched and appreciated by future generations. Just as my grandmother’s moon jar inspired me, I hope my ceramics tell stories and create connections for those who encounter them.

Pottery, for me, is more than a craft, it is a bridge between the past and the present, a way to honor history while creating something for the future. And as I continue to shape clay, I also shape a part of myself, finding new ways to tell stories through this timeless art form.