A self-confessed hoarder, John Massy confesses "I’m beset with a ‘this goes with that’ mentality."
The creative process of making collages, montages and assemblages gives new purpose to pieces that prompted retention.
When bits are being assembled for a composition, John often recollects where they came from or the circumstances that warranted picking them up.
If found materials have not suggested a departure point and theme, newly-created images prompt lateral thinking and the search for a title.

Gathered materials as diverse as avocado skins, orange peel, seaweed, steel wool and egg shells provide subtle colourants burned into the surface of saggar-fired pottery pieces.  Predictable and controllable only to a certain point, the process affords wonder and delight when the pieces are freed from their cocoons after firing.
Because saggar-fired wares are essentially non-utilitarian, the process is well suited to the creation of sculptural forms.