Statement

I make pottery for daily use. Looking to the simplicity and strength of natural forms and patterns for direction, I make pots in a way that shows the marks from my hands, from the tools I use, and from the fire that transforms mud to pottery. I want the hardy, organic feel and appearance of the pottery to be as grounding to the pot’s eventual owner as it is to me when I make it.

Biography

I have been making functional pottery for decades and remain captivated by the possibilities held in even the simplest cup. The process itself is a source of enduring fascination—from the slow rhythm of the treadle wheel and the silky application of slips and glazes to the unpredictable alchemy of the soda kiln. It all comes together in the moment a pot finds its place at the table, quiet and lively, among friends and family.

My journey with clay began in Durham, North Carolina, where I took classes and workshops, apprenticed, made countless pots, and fired as many kinds of kilns as I could find. The Penland School of Craft was a particular source of inspiration. Over the years, I sold work at craft fairs, galleries, and home sales, and in 2002 I built my own studio near Pittsboro, NC. Since then, I’ve continued to exhibit and sell pottery locally and across the United States.

I draw inspiration from natural forms and patterns, from the work of fellow potters and teachers—especially those at Penland—and from all the world’s pots I’ve seen, held, or had the pleasure of using. My path in clay continues in the Chatham County forest, where I live with my wife, our two sons, a dog, two cats, nine chickens, and a fruit orchard.