My enjoyment and approach to clay continue to expand. Making beautiful things whether to be used every day or as objects of contemplation is a pleasure and a necessity for me. There is approachability to my work that I strive for and there is an relationship that I hope will grow with the user.
At times I work on more decorative pieces but I will always enjoy functional stoneware too. For example, I will never want to give up the most welcoming of all pottery, coffee mugs. I still enjoy the rhythm and flow of a day throwing and putting handles on dozens of them, each of them are one-of-a-kind. I hope that each cup will find an owner that will treasure it. I feel strongly that handmade objects contribute to the richness of our lives.
Prominent features of my work include texture, form, comfort and especially utility. Utility is from the Latin word utilitas, meaning useful, whether as container for food or an object for reflection. My more decorative work is inspired by the natural world and the many ways that people respond to their environment.
Living at the beach, at the edge of two worlds, the land and the sea, I am constantly inspired and grateful. I taught high school art for over twenty years at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN. I received a Bachelors Degree in Art with a concentration in Ceramics in 1979 from the University of West Georgia. In college I never once thought of falling asleep in Art History, there was too much to see and be amazed over. And that continues.