Artist Wood Not Slowing Down at 100 : Milestone: The potter and writer has a reputation for being both thoroughly modern and a romantic--and a hard worker.

On the eve of her 100th birthday, Beatrice Wood’s idea of the perfect day has not changed much since she was a teen-ager: “To have lots of young men around,” she smiles, “and yes, to get lots of work done.”

Beatrice Wood--artist, writer, raconteuse extraordinaire, noted for her love of young men, chocolate and shocking pink roses--will spend her 100th birthday today maneuvering through a schedule filled with gala openings, receptions and awards.

“These are just things I have to do as part of my work,” said Wood. “As long as they don’t interfere with my afternoon nap, I don’t mind.”

Wearing a bright orange sari and dozens of bracelets, Wood has settled onto a couch in the living room of her Ojai house that doubles as a public gallery.

As tourists pass in and out of the room admiring her ceramics and pottery, she is gently dismissive about the creativity that spawns her work.

“A friend of mine who does housecleaning is as creative as a person with a paintbrush who has everyone going out of their minds about how beautiful some painting they did is,” she said, her eyes shining. “I don’t think people give certain kinds of work the credit for creativity that they deserve.”

A notoriously hard worker, Wood is in her studio every day, often starting at 8:30 a.m. and working until 11 p.m. Additionally, she recently finished collaborating on an autobiographical documentary and a book project about a mythical bordello.

“What do you mean, act my age?” she asks.

Although she disputes it, Wood is thoroughly modern. She has long spoken openly about sex and has long embraced multiculturalism in both her work and her life.

“Yes, she is modern,” said Ram Singh, Wood’s assistant for almost 20 years. “But she is also romantic, conservative . . . a person who believes that if people are in love, they should not stray.”

Wood, who had two “paper” marriages, but never with any of the men she loved, has fashioned several pieces that combine cynicism and humor about relationships.

Wood said she transfers her love to the cats and dogs that wander around the house and to the valley that led her to turn her back on Paris and New York 55 years ago.

“How can you explain something you love?” she asks. “I don’t know what it is exactly, a certain energy. All I know is that whenever I have to go traveling, I can’t wait to get back here.”