7450 Highway 128, Philo, CA 95466, US
About
I Love Being an Artist!
I think I have always been a potter at heart. Even after more than 30 years of working with clay, I still find it exciting going into the studio every day, exploring and pushing the limits of what I can do and what the clay can be made to do. I love seeing what happens.
Growing up it never occurred to me that I could be an artist so I chose architecture as my career. It wasn't until my fourth year majoring in architecture at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA that I discovered my passion to be an artist. We were supposed to design an art department for a college campus and the more we researched art schools the more I knew that art school was where I wanted to be.
Now I had a soul-searching decision to make. Should I stay on my safe and chosen path towards a career in architecture, I had only one year left in school, or should I follow my heart into the unknown and become an artist? I took a deep breath and followed the excitement I felt in my heart about creating with clay.
With a change of majors and a change of schools I earned my BFA in Ceramics from California College of Arts and Crafts (now CCA) studying with Viola Frey, who loosened me up after all those years with a triangle and T-square, and Art Nelson who nurtured my love of throwing.
After graduating I went to Crete, Greece to study Minoan art history and pottery. My two interests of architecture and art were blended so well that summer, it was a very special time for me. My love of the Mediterranean blues and bold colors came from my time on Crete and subsequent travels throughout Greece and they are still evident in the work I make today.
Over the years my work has evolved into a menagerie of large-scale animals, both free standing and as elements of my totem poles. Whether they come from land, sea or sky my animals all have an inner joyful spirit, often playful and whimsical, that comes out and makes me feel happy too.
Looking back I can see that the decision I made as a 22 year old set me onto a course that has turned into a wonderful art-filled life where each day holds a new creative adventure for me. I love that my new path led me to a place where I could add joy and meaning to people’s lives through what I create in my studio and I am honored each time I get to create a commission that holds special meaning for one of my collectors.
I am so glad that I followed my heart!