San Francisco ceramics artist Hope Johnson invited us into her Sunset studio for a tour recently.

Hope has been producing ceramic art for more than a decade. Her design aesthetics are heavily influenced by plant forms and organic shapes, and her experience in architecture is channeled through her application of mid-century modern colors and graphics.

All of Hope's ceramic pieces are produced by hand in her home studio. Her collection includes series of plates and dishes, equally suited for serving or display, and a line of ceramic pendant necklaces.

The photo essay below is the first in a series.

25-pound blocks of clay are first cut down to size.

The process is a manual, tactile experience. She begins by flattening a piece of clay in her hands.

The clay is run through a handturned press to produce a smooth surface.

To remove air bubbles and smooth over craters, the clay is again worked by hand.

Achieving a consistent texture at this stage will ensure the clay doesn't warp or chip.

A rolling pin is used to achieve an even depth.

The smoothed clay is ready to be cut.

Hope keeps a library of forms for the various plate shapes and sizes in her collection.

Using a form, the clay is handcut to produce the piece's shape.

The clay is worked by hand to produce the smooth edges and rounded shape of the dish.

Set down to dry, the first waiting period begins.

Continue watching Hope's process in the second part of this series.