Artist Statement

Biography/ Artist Statement/ Resume

The current focus in my wood and soda fired pottery is the interplay between form, texture, detail and variations of surfaces.  I am intrigued with the repetition of patterns I find in nature and incorporate traces of these textures into the clay surfaces.  Because of my interests in the environment and sustainability, I fire the kiln using waste wood and strive to bring this awareness of conservation into my work and my lifestyle everywhere I can.  The kiln is designed to burn wood pallets discarded from local industry and headed for the trash pile.  By reclaiming these materials and using them as energy, I am preventing this wood fuel from becoming a wasted energy source.   The wood flame and ash that form during the firing creates striking variations and earth tones within the surfaces of my pottery and is an integral part to the success of my work.

Cradling a cup or bowl in hand, I hope people connect with my functional pots through the subtle textures I have impressed or hand carved into the clay.   At the wheel, I consider the fullness of a form, the division of contrasting surfaces, and rhythms that occur in the textures.  These individual elements are treated similarly to how I observe nature.  At first glance, my eyes are unable to focus on the variety in nature surrounding me.  Yet the little details are what I am drawn to, such as a leaf connecting to its stem, the folds of a mountain range, or the softness of a seed enclosed in its shell.  These small components in nature that reveal such variations are what I feel bring vitality and energy to my life.    By bringing these details into closer view, I hope each pot possesses the energy and insights I gather from my natural surroundings.  My admiration of nature comes full circle, directly into the hands using my pots.  From drinking coffee out of one of my carved mugs or serving a fresh green salad in one of my bowls, it is my hope that each detail I’ve revealed in my pottery brings a sense of awareness and joy to the daily rituals in our lives.  Perhaps by seeing these impressions, those people too, will realize the importance of our environment and make sustainable choices within their lives.