I’ve been working in clay since 2000 when I took a sculpture class in college. From there it was a slippery, dare I say muddy, slope to another wheel throwing class, which only led to more wheel throwing classes and finally a major in ceramic art. The path after college to becoming a professional potter and artist wasn’t always so straight forward, but eventually I found my way to making pots full time in my backyard studio.

Right now in my work and life, I’m drawn most to native medicinal and edible plants, and use the images of these local plants in my work. I think it is their gentle healing qualities that most inspire me along with their beauty. Learning to recognize plants in the wild is about pattern recognition and the plants I choose are so common where I live, they form a repeating pattern backdrop for this area, yet in our modern, disconnected age, many people don’t notice they’re there. By bringing them to the forefront in my work, I hope draw attention a little more to these often over looked plants and what they might be telling us.

I tend to prefer a minimal, restrained aesthetic and keep my pieces as uncluttered as possible. I hope overall to keep the visual noise to a minimum, much like the experience of standing in a forest where even though life is teeming and patterns abound, the mind feels quieted.

Everything I make is handcrafted from start to finish.  I pay close attention to the details so each piece feels good in the hand and functions well in the home.   I use primarily wheel throwing techniques with some hand building.  I like how the different processes contrast and compliment each other. I use homemade slips and glazes and often leave the outside of pieces unglazed to highlight the beautiful stone texture of the clay. I use a diamond sanding pad to create a soft, touchable surface and quartz sealer on all unglazed surfaces for increased durability.  All work is dishwasher and microwave safe and made to be as durable as possible.  

Outside the studio, I love hiking the hills and forests of the pacific northwest, searching for edible and medicinal plants, bird watching, or collecting interesting rocks and branches.   I'm incredibly grateful to be a part of a wonderful and vibrant community of makers and artisans here in Portland.