I am, first and foremost, inspired by the earth—the touch of a river rock, the color of the grass, the pattern in the flowers. Feeling the pull toward nature through the clay itself, I strive to create work that reflects the beauty, simplicity, and imperfection of the trees, sticks, and leaves. I create patterns using nerikomi techniques, then push, pull, and stretch them through the pinching process. The excitement of my work lies in laying out intricate patterns and allowing them to transform into something new and distinct—relinquishing control through the movement of the form.

While I find myself wanting to make rocks, I am grounded by the idea that every object in our lives could be as beautiful as it is useful. My work sits firmly in the functional realm. Each object is created with the intention to be touched, held, and used. I am inspired by each time I stumble upon a treasure on a walk, like a perfect stick or stone with a hole. I aim to recreate that experience in the home—picking up a mug and feeling as though you’ve just plucked it from a trail, only to be delighted to find it holds a cup of coffee.