Artist Statement

Most of the pieces in this exhibition were made of stoneware clay.

They were high fired to 2350 degrees in a reduction atmosphere.

The majority of the work was made in the last 4 months. I chose to make the pieces in stoneware after working in earthenware clay for the last 12 years because stoneware is more of a challenge. You usually can't be sure how a piece will turn out until fer it's been fired and unloaded. It's like putting everything you know into the fabricating and glaze technology and then subjecting the work to the baptism of fire. In short, the kiln has the final say.

I made simple forms and I decorated them using a limited palette. I tried to use a minimum of glaze so that I didn't hide the form. It's difficult and time consuming to plan the decorating of each piece. Just the right amount of glaze color in the right plces, keping it thin and allowing the clay surface to peek through. I think that I was abl to allow the spirit of the clay to manifest itself.