My journey into the world of art began at the University of Wisconsin where classes in ceramics, painting, art metal and weaving were included in the curriculum for a degree in Occupational Therapy. It was there that Harvey Littleton introduced me to clay and the potter's wheel.

Work in ceramics was deferred during graduate work at Northwestern University and raising three children. It was not until retirement that I returned to working with clay at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland under the guidance of Joe Montana and Inyung Han Lee. It was there that I became intrigued with the many facets of working in ceramics and began an earnest dialog with clay.

During our sabbatical year in Boulder, Colorado, I worked with Nancy Utterback and David Clinkenbeard. They both helped me to hone my skills at the potter's wheel and to develop several glazes. Later at the Air Force Academy, Bill Cruff encouraged me to begin designing wall plaques using oxides and acrylics to enhance these. I also began creating plaques as personalized totems that gave visual symbols representing the life story of recipients.

After our move to Knoxville, I resumed the study of ceramics at Pellissippi State Community College under the direction of Jeff Locket who spurred my interest in sawdust firing. In 1997, I was juried into the Art Market Gallery where my work appears today. It varies widely and includes functional pottery, sawdust fired pieces, decorative wall plaques, embossed pieces, life story totems and sculptures. In 2003 one of my sawdust fired wall plaques was accepted in the gallery's Annual Juried Exhibition.

More recently I began serious study in painting including workshops and classes with Betsy Worden and Victoria Lane. I am also learning much about the media by painting with a group of local artists every week.

As a member of the Art Market gallery, I served on the Board of Directors 1999-2001. Currently I am working on the display committee. Also I am a member of Art Group 21.

Be it clay or paints, I am driven to explore and extend the possibilities of the media I use, at times combining them to achieve a creative statement.