Artist Statement:
In my sculpture I have combined my love for animals with the desire to create something beautiful and moving. I have been drawing and sculpting all of my life, clay becoming my favorite medium. I do all the sculpting, firing, painting and finishing myself.


The Sculpting Process:
Before starting a piece, several sketches are made while studying the animal's anatomy. Many subjects include Endangered Species, which are perched on bases representing their shrinking environment. I also enjoy sculpting whales and marine wildlife and try to capture their beauty of form, grace, and flowing movement. Each sculpture is individually hand made.

I use a white stoneware clay and various techniques to create the animals. Some bases are made with clay slabs, the animals sculpted on top of them. Some sculptures are made solid, then cut apart in sections, hollowed out and reassembled. Details are carved in when the clay reaches a "leather hard" stage. When finished, the piece must be dried slowly, at least 2 to 3 weeks. Then the sculpture is bisque fired in an electric kiln. After bisque firing, the piece is then "smoke fired" outside in a kiln made of bricks. Different materials used for the firing yield various effects. Sawdust, straw, hay, pine needles, twigs or leaves may be used as fuel. The sculpture is "painted" by the markings left by the smoke and flame. Some pieces are painted with Gouache paints before smoke firing, some after the firing.