My studio is located at the base of the Rocky Mountains close to Glacier National Park. I have been working with clay for over 35 years and have a Bachelor's degree in Education with endorsements in K-12 Art and Reading. I have taught classes to all ages and am available to teach, please feel free to contact me for more information.
Clay is a primal, living material; I have chosen it because it gives me a sense of connectedness, I get a similar feeling when working with the soil when gardening. Each piece of pottery is made from porcelain or white stoneware, individually thrown on a potter’s wheel, then altered and/or hand built to complete. I strive for a sense of flow or movement in my pieces; I gently curve, fold and cut the clay to give that feeling of movement. I am inspired by forms in the natural world, and the natural flow or motion of moving liquid, such as water, as it moves around objects.
I make wheel thrown and altered porcelain and white stoneware dining, serving and decorative ware. I seek to enhance the experience of interacting with functional everyday items, encouraging exchanging items used daily into handmade works of art that are then used, touched, and enjoyed on a regular basis. I believe everyone should have and use Art regularly, enhancing and giving elegance to their daily lives. Making that connection when holding a handmade piece; it was made by the actual hands of another. To generate a moment of pause by the user to take in an appreciation of the piece being used; to drink their coffee, eat their meals, or just view objects surrounding them. By taking in this appreciation and extending it throughout one’s day, that appreciation could open to a whole new world of seeing what’s around us in a whole new way.
Reduction firing involves a very direct process and demands being in the present, I currently fire in wood or gas (propane) kilns, liking high fire due to its ability to melt and move the glazes giving a further sense of movement. I utilize wood kilns when I can, desiring the visual marks of the flame as it flows over the ware adding even more to the feeling of movement to the piece.
Firing with wood is far more than just a process to heat pots and melt glazes, it is a very labor intensive process, much more than with propane. Wood firing is an arduous process that requires continuous direct personal involvement of stocking continuously 24 hours a day for 4 to 5 days. It is gratifying to smell the fresh wood burning, hear the crackle of the fire, working hard to create the desired outcome. The porcelain and white stoneware pieces have an unpredictable spontaneous natural beauty revealed through this firing process showing the signature of the flame as it crosses and interacts with each piece in the kiln.
Each of my pieces is individually thrown on a potter's wheel and/or hand built using white stoneware or porcelain. Most is a combination of wheel thrown work that has then been altered. Nothing is wasted, all clay is recycled, what does not get fired becomes another piece. The pieces not meeting selling standards can be found as garden art, mosaics & stepping stones around the studio grounds.
I have found joy and inspiration in my studio working with this earthy substance, throwing and altering the shapes. My forms continuously change and progress, having grown from the previous form. This continually brings new shapes and new challenges. I feel I am on a lifelong quest of continually trying to perfect new shapes and forms, finding new beauty and joy through clay.
All work is fired to 2400 degrees F and is oven, dishwasher & microwave and food safe, except Raku pieces, which are intended for decorative purposes only.
To contact the pottery send me a message on the contact page or call the pottery at 406/756-0766.
Clay is a primal, living material; I have chosen it because it gives me a sense of connectedness, I get a similar feeling when working with the soil when gardening. Each piece of pottery is made from porcelain or white stoneware, individually thrown on a potter’s wheel, then altered and/or hand built to complete. I strive for a sense of flow or movement in my pieces; I gently curve, fold and cut the clay to give that feeling of movement. I am inspired by forms in the natural world, and the natural flow or motion of moving liquid, such as water, as it moves around objects.
I make wheel thrown and altered porcelain and white stoneware dining, serving and decorative ware. I seek to enhance the experience of interacting with functional everyday items, encouraging exchanging items used daily into handmade works of art that are then used, touched, and enjoyed on a regular basis. I believe everyone should have and use Art regularly, enhancing and giving elegance to their daily lives. Making that connection when holding a handmade piece; it was made by the actual hands of another. To generate a moment of pause by the user to take in an appreciation of the piece being used; to drink their coffee, eat their meals, or just view objects surrounding them. By taking in this appreciation and extending it throughout one’s day, that appreciation could open to a whole new world of seeing what’s around us in a whole new way.
Reduction firing involves a very direct process and demands being in the present, I currently fire in wood or gas (propane) kilns, liking high fire due to its ability to melt and move the glazes giving a further sense of movement. I utilize wood kilns when I can, desiring the visual marks of the flame as it flows over the ware adding even more to the feeling of movement to the piece.
Firing with wood is far more than just a process to heat pots and melt glazes, it is a very labor intensive process, much more than with propane. Wood firing is an arduous process that requires continuous direct personal involvement of stocking continuously 24 hours a day for 4 to 5 days. It is gratifying to smell the fresh wood burning, hear the crackle of the fire, working hard to create the desired outcome. The porcelain and white stoneware pieces have an unpredictable spontaneous natural beauty revealed through this firing process showing the signature of the flame as it crosses and interacts with each piece in the kiln.
Each of my pieces is individually thrown on a potter's wheel and/or hand built using white stoneware or porcelain. Most is a combination of wheel thrown work that has then been altered. Nothing is wasted, all clay is recycled, what does not get fired becomes another piece. The pieces not meeting selling standards can be found as garden art, mosaics & stepping stones around the studio grounds.
I have found joy and inspiration in my studio working with this earthy substance, throwing and altering the shapes. My forms continuously change and progress, having grown from the previous form. This continually brings new shapes and new challenges. I feel I am on a lifelong quest of continually trying to perfect new shapes and forms, finding new beauty and joy through clay.
All work is fired to 2400 degrees F and is oven, dishwasher & microwave and food safe, except Raku pieces, which are intended for decorative purposes only.
To contact the pottery send me a message on the contact page or call the pottery at 406/756-0766.
