As a child, I worked with my aunt who was a dress designer and with my father, who was a hat designer. They had a profound and positive impact on me as they encouraged me to be totally free with wherever I decided to take my art.

I studied stone carving in Carrera, Italy, for many summers where I learned from the Artigeans the different techniques in creating something wonderful from ceramics, marble and granite. They taught me how to find the magic in these inanimate objects.

Through the years, I have collected various types of artwork and have acquired a deep appreciation for fabrics, paint, metal and stone with clay becoming the most recent focus of my attention.

I also worked in designing and creating 18k gold jewelry with direct fire and then adding precious stones to the pieces. Each work was unique and had its own ethereal beauty.

I have now translated this into clay where I prefer using historic recipes and techniques that allow me access to broad creative expression. Raku Glazes are used with a reduction to enhance a metal-like effect, which I am partial to. My favorite technique employed on the two female forms is “Saggar fired”, which is where the piece is placed into a container with chemicals, minerals and sawdust to create a truly unique color, but without glaze.

Every artist views his or her own work as a product of their life’s experiences. Being exposed to such creative people early in my life allowed me to walk past the artificial barriers our society too often puts in the way of people who have been blessed with an artist’s eye. I will always be grateful for their guidance and encouragement.