​​My inspiration was originally drawn from what I considered rather dynamic works of some contemporary Neriage ceramics, particularly by the works of the designated living national treasure Kosei Matsui. His use of lines and gradated bands resonated with my interest in 2D illusion art and I explored ways to bring them together. Along the way, I started assembling layers of gradated coloured clays with the same or different clay bodies, from which I would throw a piece on the wheel. This would result in work with tonal gradated bands expressing advancing/receding visual effects. Most often, I achieved this by mixing dark coloured stoneware clay with white clay. I also noticed that the illusory effect created with tonal gradated bands from dark to white was also responsible for the appearance of texture without carving or fluting; layered gradated bands manifest illusory grooves or ridges, depending on the viewers’ perception. I usually work in monochromatic colour combinations and occasionally incorporate more vivid colours to best show the use of coloured gradated bands and lines.

Of all the processes involved in creating Neriage pieces, sanding greenware is where I wish I could hand off the job to someone else. 

My fascination with Neriage has always been the creation of illusory effects of tonal gradation on functional pottery surfaces.