A Little Bit About Me: I have been an artist/potter on and off for more than 30 years. I produce a wide range of high-fire functional wares and decorative vessels as well as Raku, Faux-Raku, Saggar and Mid-Range fired pieces. I have a formal education with a terminal degree in ceramic art and have worked for a number of production potters in the Western USA. I have traveled extensively throughout Mexico, Central America, Europe, Japan and New Zealand with a constant eye on what other artists are doing. I enjoy the exchange of concepts and methods with fellow potters. My work is exhibited in local galleries and shows in the Southwest throughout the year. I teach ceramic art in my studio as well as at the local community college. When I am not working, I enjoy fishing, hiking, prospecting and exploring.
Why I Create: I was first attracted to ceramics because of the joy I saw in the making. I delighted in the knowledge gained from the past through the discovery of vessels or shards. I enjoy problem solving and seeking answers to complex questions of which the creation of ceramic objects lends itself.
In the process of creating my decorative vessels, I seek traditional form, upon which I draw a line on the surface which turns into shapes that are reminiscent of a maze or puzzle. The intention is to provoke a tactile and visual intimacy and contemplation. I desire the creation of objects in which the viewer has questions and seeks to find their own answers.
How I Create: I begin my creative process with the rhythmic wedging of stoneware clay as I contemplate the series of forms to come. Through a blend of concentration and relaxation I find harmony in the forming, decorating and the finishing of each piece. My wheel thrown forms are carved, dried, bisque fired, glazed and finally glost fired in a Raku kiln or high-fire kiln.
Education: •University of Dallas: Master of Fine Arts (Ceramics 1991) and Master of Arts (Ceramics 1989) •Stephen F. Austin State University: Bachelor of Fine Arts (Ceramics 1981)