As part of my design process, I take photographs of the natural environment because one of the essential steps in pottery is considering surface treatment. Nature offers a wealth of design inspiration—color, shape, texture, and line—all interacting in complex and beautiful ways. Observing these elements closely reveals how they relate to one another: the balance of red and green, or the harmony between different shapes, for example. The possibilities found in nature are endless. After making these observations, I often translate them into watercolor studies that explore these concepts. Later in the process, once a pot is made, I experiment with these ideas on the ceramic surface—the pot becoming my canvas.