Artist's Statement

Touching clay for the first time was my epiphany.  The physical, sensual, direct qualities of this material have challenged me for the past thirty-three years. While the majority of my work has been abstract, there have been periods interspersed with figurative and narrative series.  When my life was in trauma and turmoil, my work served as catharsis. When my emotional life is stable, my work has no need for imagery or text.

My preferred method of creating is to work in a spontaneous manner to try to capture information from my subconscious. I also create  works for public commissions and to honor people I respect. For “Tribute”, the ceramic hard hats, my inspiration came from my grand-dad’s oil field hard hat.  He worked as a rough neck, driller and tool pusher, before he started his own small drilling company. He had little education, but was extremely intelligent, ethical, hardworking and kind. My dad, his only son, also worked in the oil industry, as a Geologist. My respect, admiration and love for him is beyond measure. My tribute to him are the ceramic drill bits.  “Out of the Depths” will be a combination of these tributes, a reference to my spiritual beliefs and a vehicle to draw attention to our continuing need to protect our environment.

My interest in mythology, illusions and psychology all inspire my work. When in a period of introspection my work is quiet and contemplative. When issues arise that concern me I use my work to address them.  Now I am balancing concerns, turning back to the sensual and mysterious, celebrating the unknown, cherishing the moment and anticipating life’s surprises.