Sometime this may be the place where I have a really beautiful and intriguing artist statement. Perhaps, even, that time is now. I’m not sure that I have an easily described style, yet all my work evidences the hand that made it. At any given time, I am working on many things that interest me. One at a time, yet in quick succession. As such, this page is my endeavour to write generally, and to all of that.

My work is atmospherically fired: I’m interested in tangible marks left, evidence of the mystery of firing. My work is soda fired to c.10 in a downdraft kiln that holds about 35 cubic feet of work. Soda firing is an atmospheric firing process whereby a dampened mixture of soda ash, baking soda, wood chips, and whiting is introduced to the gas-fueled kiln. The more volatile stuff vaporizes and flows through the kiln on the flames, deposited on the flameward side of the piece and forming a glaze, while the sheltered side recieves less. This creates a variegated surface, showing placement in the kiln, relation to other pieces, and emphasizing movement and contour in the piece. My particular method of firing the kiln aims to produce particular results - very heavy soda, lots of carbon trapping, and very heavy reduction. The results can be dramatic. In the interests of learning and experiencing as much as possible, some work is wood fired, or salt fired in a wood-fueled kiln.

I’m drawn to simple forms, glaze, slip, flashing. I’m intensely interested in surfaces. I’m interested in the interplay between surface and form. I tend to make groups of pieces, working repeatedly on forms and ideas through many, many iterations. I tend to experiment. I’m interested in negative spaces, in the seemingly imperfect, in how transitions are defined. I like playing with scale. I’m interested in how people interact with the work, are drawn to do so. I handbuild, of slabs, coils, pinched pots, excised solids. I sit at the wheel, create thrown pieces, alter them. I enjoy exploring how clay bodies invite different aesthetics, processes, approaches.

Everything is handmade, suitable for years of use and enjoyment. Hand washing preferred. All is lead free. All is food safe, with exceptions noted. As my work evolves, so does its description: 5 July 08