My mother gave me my earliest memories of ceramic crafting. She participated in classes where she touched up and then glazed pre-made “functional” pieces. My favorites were a set of Santa mugs and a brightly colored rooster covered with small holes intended for toothpicks that would hold olives or bits of cheese. Party fare.

I first got my hands into clay as a Brownie. I learned how to make coiled and pinch pots. My favorite was a shallow dish, made with coils and glazed in minty, speckled green.

Fast forward to 1989 when I arrived at Ohio Wesleyan and soon became fast friends with Rinda Metz, who taught ceramics in the Fine Arts Department. The one and only summer I stayed in Ohio (vs heading West), Rinda invited me to work with her in the ceramics studio. I also took a class with her where I learned to mix clays and glazes. I fell in love with hand building vessels and making tiles. Ultimately, Rinda and I both migrated to New Mexico. When she died in 2013, I lost a best friend and creative mentor. Her spirit continues to inspire me.

Several years later I found Brian Hallstead’s home studio. Here, I continued with hand-construction, making plates, birdhouses, vessels, and tiles. I learned a lot from Brian’s technical skills.