 I have worked with
clay in all forms for over 50 years. My current focus is paper clay sculpture
— paper clay is clay with paper pulp added, which increases its dry strength
and lets me build forms that aren't possible with regular clay. It also lets
me break some of the usual rules: how pieces join, how they dry, what shapes
can be held.
I fire at a variety of temperatures, including saggar firing, where
combustible materials packed around the piece create unpredictable surface
markings during the burn. I also spend time on surfacing — building up
texture, color, and finish once a piece comes out of the kiln.
On some pieces, I add mixed media — fabric, paper collage, paint, or other
materials — during construction or after firing, but clay stays the backbone
of every piece I make.
I usually start with a serious subject, and somewhere along the way the work
often surprises me by turning humorous. That's part of what keeps me at the
worktable — I never quite know what I'll think of next.
I was born in Denver, Colorado, and graduated from Colorado State University
with a degree in Humanities. I spent 46 years in business — mostly computer
software consulting for HR and payroll systems — before moving to Santa Fe,
New Mexico, in 1992, and retiring in 2003 to work in clay full time. I've
studied with clay artists including James and Nan McKinnell, and I work out
of Dancing Mud Studio in Santa Fe.
I stay active in the local clay community, volunteering with the New Mexico
State Committee and New Mexico Potters and Clay Artists, and I regularly
teach paper clay, saggar firing, and surfacing workshops, including at Ghost
Ranch. My work is available through my website and studio.
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