I work in clay which is very elemental stuff: earth, fire, air, sometimes water, and it is an epic, journey. What I make is most often sculptural and has elements of mystery, embellished with bits of personality, or attitude. The end results, whether fair or foul, are determined by many factors, some random, some predetermined, some totally unexpected and not least having to do with the kiln gods—so the process from conception to completion is fraught with endless opportunities to fly or die, blow up, melt, become a miracle, or act normal. 'Dark Star’ evolved from a series of celestial bodies I created during lockdown, designed as wall installations. I experimented with building something in the round that would be stable and reveal a dual nature. I have created several moons reflecting light and dark sides, and wanted to push that further and create a radiant form that appeared to float in space. Technically challenging to build as well as to fire, “Dark Star’ exudes a calm and soothing demeanor and a pervasively quite presence.