“When you touch one thing with deep awareness, you touch everything.” -Thich Nhat Hahn
I am grateful to have made my living making figurative ceramics for over 25 years (see figurative archives). In 2023 I had begun to feel the work was no longer authentic to my heart and began a process I called UNSELFING: to fall back from my ambitions & ego (or try to) & find the quiet joy of what I love to do. I wanted to find a stronger connection to location, land & community and let curiosity guide my path. In letting go of one thing - I could make space for something new to arise.
I love clay. I love that you can never stop exploring it. There’s always a new form, a new finish, another firing method. It has been an inspiring time and I’m loving every minute of it. It has taken me to new forms, finishes & wild clays. It’s brought curiosity, renewal and excitement to every morning.
I love where I live. I love being in wild places and being on the water. I love my family and dear friends. I am so grateful to be blessed by all of it. May it be of benefit to you.
My recent work is mostly handbuilt and slip cast using 6 different clays, 3 being wild sourced. (see processing photos below) They are oxidation fired from ^04 to ^6 - with the very occasional wood firing. The surface treatments include ceramic lithography, terra sigillatas, oxides and glazes…experimenting along the way. The end result is not always as important as the process which I find brings curiosity, discovery, surprise… and endless questions.
