I have been hand building for many years. I enjoy the idea of starting with a lump of clay and turning it into something useful or an addition to your decor. Working with clay is relaxing and exciting when letting the clay become something in its new form. I primarily build my pots with slab and coil construction incorporating texture through pressing leaves and flowers or texture stamps into the clay. I want the viewer to see a flower or leaf in a new way. I use mid-fire glazes and layer many of the colors. I have also started using some graffito and underglaze. I aspire to having fun with the medium and I’m always trying to better myself as a potter.

Fused glass has been an adventure that uses the design aspect of my creativity. It has been interesting and exciting to learn about a different facet of Art and craftsmanship. Fused glass can be utilitarian or decorative and created by cutting large pieces of sheet glass or using various sizes of frit (crushed glass) or powdered glass. I usually combine several glass techniques in one piece. I create functional pieces or decorative landscapes and floral artwork. Most of my stand alone creations are from nature observations.

A mid range clay is used for slab and coil construction. I start with a base then build upwards. Sometimes if it is a large structure I begin upside down then when the clay is at the leather hard stage I turn it right side up and add pieces of slabs or coils. I use cone flower petals and leaves for a lot of my creations. I take the flower apart and use a small rolling pin to press the petals in the clay. The same process is used for leaves. I also like adding dill stems and other plant leaves. After the piece is dry it is fired in an electric kiln. For fused glass, I use Coe 96 glass for all my creations. I decide on my design and create the dish or platter using a clear piece on the bottom and other cut pieces from the various colored opaque or transparent glass for the top. They are lightly glued together with a drop of hair spray then fired using a specific schedule in the electric kiln.