Ayano Arai, a ceramic maker in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, creates pottery with a diverse range of designs, from gorgeous floral patterns to adorable duck motifs. 
The patterns created by skillfully manipulating the engobe clay are as flowing as flowers swaying in the wind, giving the impression of a breath of life. They are a reflection of the quiet passion that seeks to infuse new sensibilities into traditional techniques.
"I've always loved making things and drawing, and while studying various crafts at Musashino Art University, I felt that clay was the material that best allowed me to give form to what I envisioned," says Arai, as he describes his encounter with pottery.
I first encountered slipware, an ancient European decorative technique, when I was working on my graduation project in my fourth year of university. I happened to pick up a book in the library and was captivated by the vessels I came across. I was drawn to their warmth and the beauty of the soft lines that seemed to flow through the clay.
At first, I couldn't draw the way I wanted, and the patterns often fell apart. Handling the fluid engobe clay was difficult, and with intense concentration, my hands gradually got used to the feel of it. However, when I was able to recreate traditional patterns like lattices and feather combs, I began to wonder, "Can I call this my own work?"
Arai, who has always loved drawing plants, began exploring how to express flowers and plants in his own way using a technique called slipware. Despite repeated failures, fueled by his strong desire to "try again," he continued to work with the soil, and eventually began to create unique floral patterns. 
Now, while letting the clay flow, he uses his tools with determination to create plants with supple, lively expressions.
The next turning point came when I worked as an assistant to Natsumi Iino, my senior at university.
"If I hadn't met Mr. Iino, I don't think my painted works or the duck series would have been created," says Arai.
While learning painting and washi paper dyeing techniques under Iino, she felt a new level of expression that was different from previous slipware. When she worked freely, she was impressed by the overlapping and bleeding colors, which she had never experienced before.
"This technique may enable the expression of botanical patterns that cannot be depicted with slipware."
This small discovery further enriched the world of Arai's work. The washi-dyed vessels have a gentle quality, as if shining a soft light through them, and a serene landscape unfolds, as if flowers are gently breathing.
This duck appears to be swimming in a pond full of flowers, painted with dyed washi paper. Its playful expression is irresistible!
"Pottery is not something you just buy, look at, and then forget about it; it gradually gains depth as you continue to use it every day. I think it's really fascinating how it grows and changes depending on the person using it."
Arai's pottery, true to his words, absorbs light and changes its appearance with use, becoming a part of the owner's life, as if quietly and gently remembering the small events of daily life and the changing of the seasons.
We visited Arai's workshop in Yokohama!
Arai-san returned to his hometown of Yokohama from Chiba and set up a new workshop.
The neatly organized workshop is tidy yet has a warm atmosphere, making it easy to work and creating a comfortable atmosphere.
Each tool was treated with care, and the entire space conveyed a careful attitude towards craftsmanship.
The newly installed kiln is still shiny. I wonder what wonderful things will be made with this kiln from now on. I'm looking forward to it!
When creating a piece, he first draws the image that comes to his mind onto paper, and then selects and draws shapes and patterns that he thinks will suit the vessel. The lines that arise from his free imagination are like scooping up fragments of a dream. It is as if he is gently transferring onto the soil the image of a flower quietly blooming in his heart.
In the future, she would like to try her hand at larger pieces such as wall hangings, mirrors, and clocks, in addition to tableware.
"We are still researching the structure, but once it takes shape, I'm sure we'll see a whole new landscape."
Behind these words, one can sense his insatiable spirit of inquiry and quiet passion for craftsmanship. The gentle warmth in the palm of your hand and the gentle breathing of the flowers depicted on them. Arai's pottery becomes more endearing with the passage of time, and continues to quietly shine in our lives.
A list of Arai Ayano's works can be found here
