Artist's Statement

Growing up in Newton, my first memory of pottery was playing in the mud puddles of the dirt road in front of our house. I made plates and cups of mud, dried them, then painted them with enamel paint. 

My first art teacher, Tom Nevills, introduced me to the wheel and kiln when I was a junior in high school. I bought my first wheel when I was 17 years old. 

With a partner, I opened a flower shop/pottery studio in 1975. We did well, but the income could not support us both. 

I studied at Bethel College and the University of Evansville in the late 70’s and then joined the family restaurant business. I did some pottery over the years while raising a family and working in manufacturing and restaurant ventures.

 After I retired, I was introduced to Mark Arts, which has a very nice studio with fellow potters who play in the mud.