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A Word From the ArtistThank you for taking the time to visit my site. If you have visited with me at a show, or purchased my work, a thousand more thanks on top of that. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work in a field that I love. My day-to-day interactions at the clay shop allow me to learn from some of the greatest clay artists in Texas, as well as absorb the knowledge of my talented and experienced coworkers. Even though my 9-to-5 limits my time in the studio, the creative wheel is constantly spinning in the back of my head, allowing me to formulate and plan before I ever touch a slab. This allows me to have more specific intentions when I do get my hands on the clay, and I feel that my time is spent more efficiently and my motions are more purposeful because of it.
Though I received my formal instruction in drawing and painting, I always enjoyed ceramics as my elective choice for studios. After completing my thesis and moving cross-country, I fell into the ceramics community almost by accident, and have found a deep-seated passion for clay. While I may not have ended up as an illustrator or painter by trade, my 2-D background expresses itself in the graphic nature of my pots. My goal as a potter is to make work that is fun, functional, and affordable, as well as artistically stimulating. Functional pottery is an intimate part of life, and I've found that the pots a person gravitates toward tend to be an expression of their personality. Nothing feels better than seeing a person's excitement when they discover that particular cup or plate that fits them, like finding a reflection of the soul. |
Process |
I make my pieces from cone 5 porcelain and stoneware. Some forms are thrown, but most pieces start as a slab of clay, which is painstakingly layered with colored slips and textured with stamps and tools. Once decorated, the clay canvases are then cut and draped over plaster molds or formed into various shapes. Once formed, additional details and carving are added. After being bisque fired, I add washes of black underglaze to add depth and dimension to the surfaces. The pieces are then fired once again to mature the glazes and vitrify the porcelain/stoneware body. Some pieces are detailed with a gold or silver luster and decals in an additional firing.
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Education |
I received my BFA from Ball State University School of Art in Muncie, Indiana in 2011. My thesis exhibition featured my studio focus, drawing and painting, but also included some ceramic sculpture work. With a heavy elective load in the ceramics department, I participated in the BSU Clay Guild and pursued my interests in clay in the years after graduation.
Originally operating a small shared studio in Austin with my sister-in-law Rachel, I continued my independent ceramics education through reading and experimentation. I now operate a private home studio in Manor, Texas. As a full-time employee of Armadillo Clay Company in Austin, I am an active member of the central Texas clay community. |
Exhibitions |
Texas Clay Festival - October 2018
Dirt Dauber Festival - May 2018 East Austin Studio Tour - November 2017 Texas Clay Festival - October 2017 Dirt Dauber Festival - May 2017 First Annual National Juried Mug Show at Dog's Eye Gallery - May 2017 The Cup Show (Fundraiser) at The Contemporary Austin - March 2017 "The Clay Cup: Vessel, Icon, Canvas", University of Missouri - October/November 2016 Dirt Dauber Festival - May 2016 Cherrywood Art Fair - December 2015 East Austin Studio Tour - November 2015 Holiday Fine Art Show at Austin Fine Art Gallery - November 2015 Cherrywood Art Fair (studio assistant for M Schopper Ceramics) - Fall 2014 East Austin Studio Tour – Fall 2014 Violet Crown Art Festival – Spring 2014 East Austin Studio Tour – 2013 Handmade Austin Women at E4 Gallery – 2013 BFA Thesis Exhibition – 2011 |
Ongoing
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Art for the People Gallery - Austin, TX
Armadillo Clay & Supplies - Austin, TX |