About
OK, so you want to know a bit about me “the artist.” Well, I like chocolate and cheese a lot. I ride my bike and read, and enjoy time by myself. And oh, yes I like to make things out of clay.
You will note I graduated from kindergarten—amazing, I know, but I did discover in kindergarten while painting a yellow duck on blue water that yellow and blue make green. Truly astounding.
Later I learned to read and discovered the book “Harold and His Purple Crayon”—a great book if you haven’t read it. Yes, purple is my favorite color.
Fast forward to my 20s, I did a lot of stained glass. I made stained glass domes that would take six months to build, working six days a week, morning till dusk. Then I fell in love, got married, had two great kids and started a construction company with my husband.
On my studio door I have a quote—“ A creative mess is better than an idle tidiness.” Well, I have a very messy studio.
Mostly I work in clay doing figurative sculpture of both humans and animals. I also like to do
boats or things pertaining to water. I often add objects, fabric, glass and encaustic painting to my work. I like to try out different surface treatments depending on what the piece seems to call for. Sometimes I raku-fire my pieces in my backyard in a trash can—don’t tell my neighbors.
When you read most artist statements, people are very philosophical about their work. I just like to go play with my clay. Usually I have an idea in my head of what I want to do but once I start a piece and it takes on a life of it's own, I go with it.
Borrego Art Institute Show with Melissa Lakey April 2023
HWY 62 Open Studio Art Tours Oct 2022
Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo 2022 Third place 3- Dimensional
29 Palms Gallery “What’s the Story” stand alone sculpture in the west wing. 30 Sept. 2021- 31 Oct 2021
Museum of Encaustic Art, Exhibit Oct 9 - March 6 one piece from the permanent exhibit
Borrego Art Institute, various shows
You can view my work at Middle Ridge Wine Tasting Gallery in Idyllwild, CA where I've been a permanent artist since 2016.
Artist of the Year 2020 by the Art Alliance of Idyllwild.
“Best of Show” in the April 2021 Art Alliance of Idyllwild “Here & Now” show.
Featured Artist in Encaustic Arts magazine June 2018. Art Alliance of Idyllwild Artist of the year 2017.
Two of my pieces were at CAMEO's 8th Annual Texas Teapot Tournament in January 2015, and three were in the American Museum Of Ceramic Art 2013 Ceramic Biennial show. My sculpture, "Memories" is in the permanent collection at the Museum of Encaustic Art in Santa Fe. I’ve been in many group and solo shows at local galleries and events here in Idyllwild, California. You can view my work at the Middle Ridge Winery.