My influences come partially from the places I grew up - Podunk - in Connecticut and the mountains and lakes of Rangeley, Maine. I was also particularly inspired by living and traveling abroad at a young age, especially by a trip to Lapland in northern Norway. Here I realized a strong interest in how people living a self reliant lifestyle, close to and with an essential respect for nature, held a strong intuitive commitment to beauty which is reflected in their daily lives.  There was/ is no separation between art and life, the two exist(ed) as an integral part of each other. I found that I desired to become a maker of beautiful objects, and with our really knowing why, at the age of 14, chose clay as the medium.

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The imagery of women and animals comes from this life long interest of how we as human beings interact with our natural world; the plants and animals around us, and how we choose to integrate their aspects into our daily lives, through nurturing, joining together, stories, craft, food, or family. The figurative themes are not meant to represent any particular culture or race, rather, all of us. Most of the animal images reflect species I feel some connection to and, that now, face issues of pollution or habitat loss. 

In all of my designs, pattern and color are  compelling dynamics.

 

  My large vessels are wheel thrown using about 18 lbs of white earthenware, while the bowls are slab built for a more organic form. After forming, the pieces are refined to achieve the smoothest surface possible for designing, painting, and carving. The pots are painted with a slip called terra sigillata, which when burnished results in a lustrous surface, after bisque firing, the are lightly smoke fired and then coated with wax which brings up the colors and protects the surface.