Ann Pritchard's solid foundation in clay

Ann Pritchard grew up on a farm built on clay, and she's been playing with clay ever since.
The potter turned ceramic artist has always loved clay, and remembers experimenting with it as a child at school in Britain.
She was always interested in art, but it wasn't until after she moved to New Zealand in the 1970s that Ann first began to work as a potter.
A pottery night class at Tauranga Boys' College in 1978 sparked a passion that has lasted more than three decades.
She was a potter for "many years", but as pottery fell out of favour she started calling herself a ceramic artist.
"These days people don't want to buy our coffee mugs, so we [potters] have all turned to garden art pieces."
This weekend, Ann will join other ceramic artists exhibiting at the Garden Art @ The Elms event.
Sculptures, garden art, pottery, carvings, wood crafts, topiary mosaics, furniture, glass and jewellery will be on display.
The Tauranga Mandolins will entertain visitors on both days, and a garden cafe will be provided by Juz Catering.
Ann has exhibited in the event several times before. She enjoys the chance to interact with art lovers and other artists.
"People like to talk about it, they are always curious."
Ann's latest work is influenced by a trip to Peru last year. She says pottery is part of the Peruvian culture.
"There is a long history of pottery there.
"Like all indigenous people, originally pottery was only for what they needed to use, such as for cooking or carrying water."
Pottery items were also buried in tombs with the dead.
"Huge amounts have been found in recent years. We checked out one of these museums in Lima, and 55,000 items had come from a tomb. It blew me away."
Her latest work was influenced by the "god-like figures" and masks she saw.
Travel has always been a huge influence for this artist, who has spent time living in Malaysia and travels regularly. Her next trip is planned for Croatia.
Although she describes herself as a "hobby" artist, Ann recently completed a Diploma in Ceramic Art through Otago Polytechnic.
She studied extramurally over five years and thoroughly enjoyed the process. "You go on learning, you try different things - that's the fun of it.
"You can use the wheel, use your hand, roll things out and put them together."
Ann has exhibited nationally and locally and was part of a recent exhibition at Creative Tauranga.
Her workroom is a converted garage on her rural Oropi property - one half is her studio, the other half is husband Len's pool room.
She loves working with clay for the textures it provides.
"I like textures and applying textures. [My pieces] have a movement about them.
"I love the shapes and forms, and creating different forms.
"I like experimenting and playing with style and form."
Her course tutors encouraged her to draw every day - "hundreds of drawings" - and Ann says she often "scribbles". She also creates free-form pieces.
However, part of the nature of clay is things don't always turn out as planned. She once created some "cubes on a pole", which were a huge hit at a Garden and Artfest. But when she went to create them again to fill the orders, they didn't work out.
"You make something once and it works, but the next time it doesn't necessarily work."
Ann's interest in art goes wider than just ceramics.
She was part of the founding trust of the Tauranga Art Gallery, and is about to finish a nine-year term.
She will remain a member of the Friends of the Gallery, and is also a keen member of Tauranga Rotary and the Bethlehem Pottery Club.
She also enjoys painting - she's done several classes over the years. "But I don't show anybody," she says.
See Ann at Garden Art @ The Elms 2011. Sunday January 30, 9.30am-5pm, and Monday January 31, 9.30am-4pm.
The Elms Mission House, Mission St, Tauranga.
Entry $5 adults, children free. Guided tours will be available both days between 10am and 4pm.