I first touched clay when I was in high school in Lancaster, PA.
The potter's wheel allowed me to work with my hands in an incredibly
direct way, and I liked the idea that my pots could become a part of
someone else's life. For two years, my high school art teacher,
Dick Ressel, challenged me with questions and projects. Because of
his influence, I ended up pursuing BFA at Penn State University. I
was fortunate to be able to study under Chuck Aydlett, David Dontigny
and Chris Staley. I received my MFA from San Diego State
University where I was equally privileged to study under Richard Burkett
and Joanne Hayakawa.
All of my
instructors worked with clay in vastly different ways. They asked
questions about what I wanted to make, why I wanted to make it, how I
wanted to make it, and how I wanted people to interact with my work.
The diversity of the questioning profoundly shaped my thinking and
influences me to this day. I have been working in clay for 20
years and I continue to find it incredibly rewarding. I teach
ceramics full-time at Coronado High School in San Diego, CA. I am
a member of the San Diego Potters' Guild, and I work out of my home
studio in Lemon Grove, CA.
