A potter’s wheel is the vehicle I use to create. It brings me great pleasure to sit down with wedged clay and embark on a journey, sometimes with a specific goal in mind and at other times letting the clay lead me. I took my first class 26 years ago at the Jane Adams Center in Chicago. I knew directly that I wanted to express myself through clay. Creating pottery is like conceiving and raising a child — forming, defining, refining, shaping, inspiring, and finally letting go to live a life of its own. My pots are both functional and sculptural. I started by making purely functional pieces with clean and simple elements and now have moved into new forms and glazing methods while maintaining functionality. My work continually evolves as my skill level improves.

– Josie Rochell