With a mom who collected pottery from every state that we visited, my love for clay started at a young age. I remember visiting a potter's studio and being mesmerized the first time watching someone throw a pot and went on to get a Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree, concentrating on ceramics. After over 15 years working in arts related retail and non-profit arts administration supporting other artists, I am now working full time as a potter.

Over the last few years my process has evolved significantly. I have moved from simple thrown pots with colored glazes, to painting with underglazes on the still damp clay, then incising through the color or painting on the bisque fired pots. Some pieces have stamped designs highlighted with bright colored glazes. The stamps on these items have been either designed or hand carved by me. Porcelain is my clay of choice, because it is such a nice white canvas for painting and I enjoy using under glazes, because they behave much like watercolors, once they are fired.

I am really inspired by the phrase: Don’t make something unless it is both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don’t hesitate to make it beautiful. – Shaker Philosophy

While this doesn’t apply to my work 100%, since not everything is necessary it is something that I keep in the back of my mind. The bit about “don’t hesitate to make it beautiful” is what stands out the most. If you are going to have things (and who doesn’t) they should be items that you appreciate, use and enjoy.