Artist's Statement

I chose to work in clay because I like the malleability of it. You can take this soft, pliable material and create anything you want--sculptures, plates, cups, tea pots and so forth. I delight in creating functional work that people can pick up and use. I work using a combination of a slab roller, extruder and wheel. Some pieces are made solely on the wheel. Others use a combination of these methods. I am known for my "Attitude Figures". They are vases disguised as posturing human figures, hands on hips and clothed in bright-hued glazes. I work mainly in porcelain at a mid-range high fire temperature of Cone 6 or 2167F degrees. All in all I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work in clay. The magic of opening the kiln after a glaze firing is like having Christmas several times a year. You never know what you are going to find.