The simple answer: because I love making things with clay.
But why?
Why do we make the things we make?
Why do we choose the particular objects we surround ourselves with in our homes?
This quest to understand your "why" first came to me when I started learning how to market my ceramics. If I look back, though, to being a student gritting my teeth through writing artist statements and a practice-based research paper, I believe digging further into my why would have been immensely helpful.
I’ve read that one beautiful way to discover why we do the things we do is to picture our 5-year-old selves asking “why?” multiple times.
I imagine it going something like this:
So, why do you make things with clay?
Because I love making things with clay.
Why?
Because I love making and using handmade ceramic objects.
Whyy?
Because it makes me feel connected to the clay community I learnt from.
Why do you want to feel connected to this community?
Because they are so generous with their knowledge and time.
Because they are passionate, curious and joyful about the handmade.
Because they make me feel part of something bigger and older than I can ever see the ends of.
Generosity.
Passion, curiosity and joy.
Community.
That is why I choose to make things with clay and share them with the world. 
The group of students and lecturers I learnt ceramics from, and the potters who joined that journey through sharing their knowledge with us, formed such a solid and creative community in our little city Pietermaritzburg.
We thrived, and still do, on generosity. Whether we were sharing new skills and discoveries, giving each other time, or making communal meals together, we were generous with each other. Since we left university my colleagues have remained my best and closest friends.
Clay is a generous medium often used in objects intended for communal use.
From ancient pots and bowls to contemporary dinnerware, pottery is for coming together with people we love.
That is what I hope to share with others when I send my ceramics out into the world.
Have you tried this exercise for yourself? I would love to know what it's helped you to learn about your why!