I started making ceramics in 2010 during college while I was attending Utah State University, where I received my Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in 2014. I started selling my ceramic work in 2012.
I love to work with porcelain clay, and I use various making methods like hand building and wheel throwing. My favorite method is pinch pottery- it's just so fun and each piece has a playful presence when finished. Sometimes I use the slab building method, playing with pieces of clay like they are fabric and "sewing" them together or folding them over a mold (like my rainbow sponge holders).
My influences mostly come from things or patterns in nature, including the night sky and sacred geometry. I like to use a lot of color in my work, ranging from moody earth tones to bright and cheery "in your face" colors. I use lead-free non-toxic underglazes to achieve my colors by painting them on or using spray bottles to achieve the shaded effect on some of my pieces.
In my studio, I believe in mixing my clay and glaze from scratch from raw ceramic minerals. My clay and glaze have short simple ingredient lists, and I don't use toxic materials. My recipes have combinations of white ball clays, feldspar, silica, calcium carbonate, and white china clay.
I work out of a small home studio in Afton, Wyoming. Working out of a small space means making every corner useful. I store my clay and glaze in my studio, and I only have one work table and 3 shelves. Someday I hope to expand with a bigger studio, but for now I make due!