"Early experiences with clay as a child apparently left a mark. After school, apprenticeships and more school, making pots was, is and will continue to be a way of life.

I've been a studio potter for nearly 40 years now, living and working in Arizona for much of that time. Until recently my work as a professional has always been low fire earthenware. High fire porcelain and white stoneware have now been added to the mix. Different clays, firing and extravagant decorating techniques give homage to my influences and work from the past with a whole new level of skills and maturity. The influences are scattered from the Southwest, Africa and Japan to the cultures of the Mediterranean. The last piece finished today, good, bad or indifferent is the product of doing the work for many years. These pieces can't be made without those experiences, successes and failures, lots of failures. Even after 40 years, everyday in the studio is an adventure. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Form is everything; I stretch clay to make canvases for decoration. Texture, pattern and color are successful additions when the shapes are impeccable. My inspirations are many, from the classic forms of antiquity to the simple, graceful pots made by indigenous peoples and the work of modern studio potters.

This current body of work deals mostly with simple clean form. Dramatic color, graphic pattern and subtle texture accentuate what I hope is a mastery of the traditional vessel form regardless of the clays and firing.” - Nicholas Bernard