Decades of interest in clay have led me to study many different aspects of this medium.

I was introduced to pottery while in art classes in high school. In the late 60’s several art teachers chose my work to be displayed at the Anacortes Arts and Crafts festivals. In 1970 I was asked to assume my former art teacher's position while he recovered from a heart attack. I found teaching, rather coaching, others a very worthwhile experience. Since that time, I have been sporadically taking classes, teaching classes and selling my artwork.

Studying books about museum collections of ancient pottery and the teachings of the famous Japanese potter Soji Hamada, I began to realize that the clay we see everyday, right here on Whidbey Island may be of great value as a working medium. I have developed a rustic method of refining our local clay, a process that requires at least one year. The smaller items that I make are made exclusively of this clay, while larger pieces may have commercially refined local Washington clays included for plasticity and durability.

There is a satisfaction in taking raw earth and creating artwork that can last eternally. Some of the pieces found in caves and archeological digs that I have studied have dated back to 12,000 BC in the Japanese Islands. Imagine having one of your pieces last that long.