In 2019 I started taking pottery classes at Arbutus Folk School in downtown Olympia. It was a perfect union of the art forms I loved so much already— whether it was drawing, painting, or carving, pottery allows for such a vast array of design techniques. I kept taking classes during that year and purchased my own wheel in 2020.

In 2021, I became the studio manager and later an instructor at Arbutus Folk School. They say, to teach is to learn it twice and it’s true. I became a better potter, helping others!

In 2022, I received a Bachelor’s Degree from The Evergreen State College with an emphasis in Urban Agriculture and Soil Chemistry. To my delight, soil chemistry laid the ground work for understanding the components in clay and glazes. I spent hours in the studio making glazes, prepping for classes, firing kilns, and running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I loved it but I didn’t make much pottery during that time. I started to turn my focus toward creating a space at my house where I could throw pots.

In 2023, my husband and I turned our 10’ x 16’ shed into a pottery studio and woodshop. Small but mighty, this has allowed me to further define myself as a potter. The work I create today is made from our little shop likely in the wee hours of the morning with clay covered pajamas. Any artist knows you need a place to go when inspiration strikes and luckily for me it’s right outside my door.

Artist Statement

I spent hours of my childhood traversing through acres of mud on our family property in Olympia, WA. My brothers and I used to let balls bake in the sun before launching them at each other, smelling like mud well into the week. When my Dad was a kid he used to hide in the woods, disguising himself with the dark creek clay. And now, sweeping up clods of mud falling from our boots is a daily ritual in my house. Sorry Mom! I finally get it. It’s no surprise I had no fear diving into this fascinating material.

There’s nothing like taking a ball of clay and turning it into a vessel. A soft, flimsy material transformed into a tangible and strong object. It may be a cup you sip from each day, or a casserole dish filled with your favorite home cooked meal, handmade pottery brings energy that can’t be replaced.

To create pottery is to slow down. In a world that is moving so fast around us, throwing demands calmness and intention. In your peripheral, the movement of the wheel whips by, as the clay glides gently through your fingertips. A perfect union of fast and slow. To create pottery is to grow. Each day I engage with creating, I engage with growing as a person. There are endless life lessons to be learned through this art form.

It is truly a special feeling, sharing my creations with all of you. Woven into each detail is the story of my life. Like a snapshot of my brain or a journal entry from that day. Whether I seek to tell my story or not, it becomes through my art.