Naoko Teruya

" I usually use stoneware especially dark clay like balcones dark and black mountain. And occasionally I use porcelain. "

Primary forming method?

"I like both hand-building and wheel throwing. "

Primary firing temperature?

"I like cone 10 reduction firing and also oxidation mid firing."

Favorite surface treatment?

"My favorite surface is matte surface, like non-glazed surface. Even when I use a glaze I tried to make natural earthy surface. "

How/Where do you market and sell your artwork?

"I sell at my studio and my website at www.naokospottery.com."

""What drives me to work with clay” is when I touched clay first time, I thought I could make anything with clay! That was the start. Of course, it was wrong. But somehow I found it fun in the processes and now I enjoy challenging. "              

 Did you come to ceramics from a different career? Tell us about your journey to a ceramics career.

"I have a college degree of literature in Japan. I didn’t go to art school and I’ve never touched clay until I came to the US. My ceramic journey began in Boston where I moved to the US first time. At that time I didn’t bring a lot of kitchen stuff from Japan. I needed some bowls and plates for Japanese food I cooked. Then I found the Radcliffe College Ceramic Studio and touched the clay for the first time there. I focused on making functional work. I was fascinated by the clay there. Since then I have gotten into creating a shape with clay to express my taste and what I feel. "

How have you have taken your experience as a well-established maker in the field and passed that knowledge along to your other artists?

"I’ve been learning at so many places including in Japan. And I noticed that every artist teaches me in a different way. Even just throwing is different. Learning is fun and never ending."

What’s the best advice you’ve been given by a fellow maker, mentor, or teacher?

“I was told by many teachers that I should draw pictures and make a plan what I am going to make before starting. I usually start without any solid idea, and ask the clay what I want to be… but these advices actually work. Making up my mind and drawing the shape I plan really help and guide me where I want to go."