I am interested in exploring the role of handmade pottery in today’s world.  Industrialized ceramics has eliminated the need for handmade wares, so the potter has redefined his/her place in society by creating an artistic visual language through production of handmade, utilitarian vessels.  In that case, why make utilitarian vessels?  I believe the ability to eat and drink from pottery creates a heightened sense of approachability to the work, allowing viewers to develop relationships through active participation.  I address this issue by emphasizing certain handmade qualities of wheel thrown pottery.

I use the pottery wheel for almost all of my artistic process.  Even when hand-building slab plates or creating sculptural installations, the pottery wheel plays a crucial role in the work.  I also constantly explore ways to communicate the touch of my hand in the work.  As Warren Mackenzie said, “The most important thing is communicating with the user.  It is only when the user feels the presence of the hand of the potter that communication truly exists.”

My work is also influenced by certain aspects of the natural world, like undulating horizon lines and organic shapes of plants and fungi.  My most recent work has adapted a more balanced, symmetrical representation of nature, like the spiral of a nautilus shell.  The pottery also achieves colors and surfaces that convey earthen aesthetics and an intuitive sense of natural variation.

I enjoy surfaces that create a rustic feel while maintaining color diversity and vibrancy.  I also encourage approachability to my work through soft, inviting surfaces.  I striving for colors and textures so enthralling they affect viewers unconsciously, sparking immediate attraction upon first glance.