Artist Statement
Discovering clay at an early age has allowed me to develop and refine my skills as an artist throughout my childhood and adolescence. After studies in college, it led me to an opportunity of working abroad in Italy with ceramics. The experiences encouraged an
expansion of new ideas and lead me to the unique challenge of opening my own forum: Dark Star Galleria & Studio. Ownership
of my own gallery and pottery studio inspired me to create unique glaze formulas with ceramic art around my own glaze recipes. Realizing each ceramic vessel holds a unique promise has inspired me to also build my kilns and create unique firing techniques to
showcase my artistic glazing process. I have enjoyed working diligently to master the chemical reaction between the three major elements
of ceramic artistry: clay bodies, glaze formulas and various firing methods. Each of my kilns has a specific glaze
purpose for which it was built. My three major focuses have been on alcohol-fumed Raku methods, crystalline and high-fire reduction
reds. These three methods have inspired me to create art which is aesthetically pleasing and unique in addition to being functional.
Combining my life-passion along with my experiences has lead to endless firing techniques and countless glaze formulas. As a
result, I now have a well developed palette of vibrant colors and unique designs. The blending of my educational experience and opportunities
with world travel has granted a broad base from which I continue to evolve.