Other Works

Archetypal Vessels

My Archetypal Vessels reflect my ongoing fascination with the history of civilization, revealed through ancient objects made of clay. Ceramic objects are storytellers of past lives and communities. While paintings fade away, metals corrode and wood and textiles rot, ceramics survives millennia and offers glimpses of cultures that have ceased to exist. I enjoy re-interpreting these powerful forms and sacred designs with added notes of the current era.

The Pithos Portal vessels are based on ancient Greek storage containers from 1400 BC. Some were taller than a person, and they were used to contain grains, oil, wine and water. Sometimes they contained human remains. In my version I have used family photographs that I made into decals and fired on the circular elements. The images are from my Greek Grandmother’s 1955 photo album; she had returned to Greece to visit her family after living in America since 1920. She is the one in the smart, light colored suit. Her mother(my great grandmother) is holding her spinning and one of the rugs she wove is draped around the vessel.

California Craft Style

The pieces in this collection are inspired by California pottery made in the 1930’s and 40’s, complete with candy colors, bold shapes and clean lines. The original Bauer ringware bowls from this era were designed and slip cast to resemble hand thrown bowls with throwing lines. My version of “ringware” is actually thrown by hand on the wheel, as an homage to these slip cast bowls and other shapes that were meant to emulate hand thrown ones. The bowls, plates and tumblers are some of the most functional pieces that I make, and are a perfect marriage of style and utility.

I make each piece, one at a time on the potter's wheel. Production is limited, and my intent is to produce wares that have life, breath, and the mark of my hand. My pots are durable and meant for function. My glazes are food safe. All pieces are dishwasher safe and can be used in the oven and microwave. Because each piece is made by hand, each piece is unique yet related to the others, like members of a family. Small variations in size and color do occur.

House Portraits of Crockett and Beyond

In 1994 I made my first series of Carquinez Bridge Plates, and sold every one at the local Octoberfest in the Park. I have expanded my repertoire of souvenir plates over the years, adding landmark buildings, bridge construction and events that have taken place in our corner of the world. I have designed and made over 75 different Scenes of Crockett, each are signed and dated. I pay homage to my home, and to the tradition of the handmade souvenir.  

One of my most popular Crockett Scenic Plates depicts a charming house on a hillside next to a bridge and a body of water. Many of my neighbors wonder if it is actually their house, and this gave me the idea to offer Custom House Plates. I have made over 50 custom house plates, some are located in town and sometimes I work from a photograph of a house far away. These make lovely gifts for family members to remember the old homestead. Please contact me for more details!

Still Life Series

I am a maker of objects.  The visual world in my studio is composed of multiples and variations of the forms. Components of pots line up on the ware boards and tables. Bowls are stacked rim to rim and foot to foot, handles line up on a row of pitchers, plates are nested.    Intriguing spatial relationships are at play, and serve a functional purpose as well as a visual one.  After the pottery is fired and ready for use, it can be filled with food and placed on a table, creating an instant context for a still life arrangement.  

My love of still life painting combined with my need to experiment and expand my craft and art to begin the still life series that I am pursuing.  I have been participating in wood firings for fifteen years, and this method enhanced my ideas for making this work.  For one thing, pieces can stick together in the kiln, which makes for instant still life.