The Inspirations Behind My Pottery

I came to clay later in life, invited by a friend and neighbor. One class was all it took- I was hooked. For the next five years , I spent six to seven hours a day in the studio, determined to put in those infamous 10,000 hours. I followed every opportunity to learn, taking classes and attending lectures wherever I could. I’ve studied at Harvard Ceramic Program and continue to seek out teachers, conversation, and experiences that deepen my practice.

The wheel and white stoneware fired in an electric kiln remain my favorite modes of expression, though I’ve recently begun exploring handbuilding and surface texture. Many of my pieces carry impressions from handmade stamps I created using wine corks and small bits of clay. Color is essential in my work. While I’m naturally drawn to blues, I often reach for bright reds, yellows, and oranges achieved through underglazes and colored slips.

Utility matters to me. I love the idea of art woven into daily life - a mug that greets you every morning, a bowl that becomes part of your family’s rhythm. When someone tells me, “I use the mug I bought from you everyday - it’s the perfect size,” it means more to me than any compliment about beauty alone. That connection, that presence in someone’s everyday rituals, is what keeps me returning to the clay.