Village Clay Works bio: I grew up in Sierra Madre, Ca. in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains. I’ve had my hands in clay for the last 11 years. I’ve tried other mediums in art such as water color, drawing, intaglio etching, photography and woodblock printing. I find that I can combine most all of these art processes when creating a piece in ceramics. I form a ceramic object, a mug or a bowl etc. and use it as a blank canvas to draw or to carve on.

A few years ago I first saw a dragonfly on a lake in Cable, Wisconsin and was fascinated with its flight and vivid colors. I began to draw other bugs and insects, the “dung” scarab beetle, cricket, praying mantis and the house fly. God created each beautiful and intricate insect and I feel compelled to draw them and tell their stories.

I try to make my process of creation as “green” as possible. I fire all of my work in an electric kiln that is supplememted by solar panels on our roof. In addition we travel to the various art shows we do in our diesel truck that runs on recycled vegetable oil.