I think in images. I taught myself to draw, as a child, by drawing hundreds of pictures of birds from a family book. When other people were in the high school plays on stage, I had painted the backdrops and scenery.

Studying art in college, the focus was painting and printmaking. But afterward, strolling down a street one day near where I had taken a job, I read the flyers posted for pottery classes at the Craft Alliance in University City, Missouri. I loved clay from the moment I touched it. I took easily to wheel-throwing and hand building and my mind seemed to explode into the 3-dimensional possibilities of forming with this simple earth ingredient.

I study to explore and improve, constantly. I have studied with local potter, Steve Briggs of Gilpin County, Colorado; at The Craft Alliance in University City, Missouri; at the Boulder Potter’s Guild, Boulder, Colorado; and with Steven Hill and Rita Vali in workshops. My most exacting teacher has been nature, herself, and sitting at my wheel and learning from the work. My ceramic arts spring from a love of creating new forms inspired by bursting fertility, and organic shapes, textures, and colors. The shape of each vessel is very important to me—it has to have a beautiful balance, an emotional expression, and to be functional, while being intriguing to look at when not in use. I hope that my work brings lasting joy to others.

Artist’s CV/Resume