“A (wo)man who works with their hands is a laborer; a (wo)man who works with their hands & their brain is a craftsman; but a (wo)man who works with their hands & their brain & their heart is an artist.”
— Anonymous
I was introduced to pottery at a very young age, my mother taught art in the classroom throughout my entire adolescence. She’d tolerate me wandering around her supply closets touching everything and anything I could (most days). I loved spending time in her art room, looking back those early experiences truly had an impact on my journey as an artist and its a big reason why I am here today. I went on to study fine art at Eastern Washington University and earned a BFA with a focus in ceramics and graphic design.
Slab and Cedar started in the living room of my tiny apartment in Seattle, WA. After I moved to the rainy city I needed an outlet while I looked for work. I would roll out slabs of clay on a canvas and press in different textures like wood grain, leaves and pine needles. I was so inspired by what the northwest had to offer, the lush greenery and furry mosses on everything still reflects in my work today.
After moving to Tacoma, I was fortunate enough to stumble into Open Arts Studio where I started taking pottery classes shortly after. Since then I have grown to love the pottery wheel and currently teach youth classes at OAS throughout the school year. I owe so much of my progress as a potter to this studio and its amazing team of teachers. I feel so lucky to share my passion with eager students everyday, it makes this whole journey extremely fulfilling.
I try not to over analyze my philosophy when it comes to making. My forms tend to have soft round curves and slightly flared rims. I’ve found my hands just naturally want to take on that shape as I throw. I leave exposed raw clay on the bottom of my pieces and dip them in bright contrasting glazes. I aim to make functional pottery for your home. I’d rather make pieces that you’ll use and enjoy everyday rather than work that just sits on a shelf.
It’s safe to say I wouldn’t be here without the amazing crew of people in my corner. If you showed up to my booth on a market day, if you ordered a piece from me and waited for months, if you recommended my work to a friend, helped me with this site or with photos, THANK YOU. Thank you, Thank you. I appreciate all of you more than anything. I also want to give a shout out to all the amazing creative potters at OAS who constantly uplift each other and make working in the studio a really enjoyable experience. I’m lucky to have a community of talented people to bounce ideas off of and receive support from. Last but not least I want to thank my better half, Michael for always being the best helper and cheerleader.
I hope you all enjoy the collection, cheers friends!
