I was primarily a woodworker in my early artistic life, and the craftsmanship of woodworking has greatly impacted my process as a clay artist. Like a tree, much of what makes my work distinct is "behind the scenes". My forms and molds are hand-made, allowing the clay bodies to take whatever shape I can imagine. In addition, I craft many of my own stamps through wood burning and carving.
Initially in my clay works, I experimented with textures randomly on the surface of the clay. Now, my primary interest is in exploring how the textures integrate with the form itself. I spent a lot of time experimenting with glazes in order to further enhance both the texture and the form-- sometimes uniting them, and sometimes bringing out their differences.
Overall, I am intrigued by organic shapes and textures-- a frequent theme in my work. I find myself constantly fascinated by images in the natural world and capturing it in the essence of my pieces.