This dark earth-coloured vessel was hand-shaped from a solid block of clay, which was stretched by making a hole and then pushing the clay outwards. The stretching breaks open the clay structure and creates surface patterns very similar to those naturally occurring in the land around us. Patricia aims to achieve natural surfaces on a controlled form. The textures are inspired by patterns found in the landscape where she lives, formed by the effects of humans, animals and the climate.

This piece is inspired by the Korean Moon Jar tradition. The firing process does not affect the textures greatly but has a big impact on the colour and density of the piece. Low temperature raku firing gives a soft and gentle range of greys and blacks.

This jar has been hand-formed from iron bearing clay and then wood-fired. The rich colours and surface of this piece are reminiscent of banks of wet peat common in the part of Scotland where Patricia lives. High temperature wood-firing allows iron bearing clays to develop rich, warm earth colours. The fine ash travelling through the kiln reacts with the clay surface to form a natural glaze and the flame path across the pots can be followed by this glaze formation.

The peat bogs of the Isle of Skye hold and preserve their secrets, sometimes for millennia. The jar is an innately human form for containing and preserving the precious things of our existence.