What's cookin' in the kiln

I was going to be a peace talks negotiator, but I thought I should have something to fall back on.

That's why I was an Art Major........

Good things are happening in the studio! Creating, experimenting, discovering, laughing....


I have been working on wheel thrown hollow forms. This sea urchin is double walled--one in the center, and one on the outside. I pull both walls up and connect them together--like a donut. Then I trim and round the edges.

After it dries a bit, I cut it off the bat, turn the form over and shape the other side. Then I add little bumps of clay to give it some texture. I've added holes on the back of this piece, so it can be hung on the wall, or sit on a table.

This is a large mountain goat mask. We see goats almost every day in Tracy and Endicott Arm in southeast Alaska, as well as in Glacier Park in Montana.

--And these are funky soapdishes I made by combining stains with porcelain clay. I then take my blue and white clay bodies, flatten them, and squish them into designs.

Finished glazed pieces!! Creating with clay is a long process: You sculpt the clay, then let it dry slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwlllllllyyyyyyyyyyy....and then bisque fire in the kiln for about 12 hours. After waiting another 12 hours for the kiln to cool off, you can finally glaze your piece, then load back in the kiln, fire for another 12 hours, let cool.........And then...........The long awaited anticipation is finally over!

Charlie the halibut: He's big, he's red (and orange) and he TOTALLY ROCKS!!!!

Whoa! This salmon swam right into the wall. Very cool.


My 1st attempt at a sea urchin(thrown on the potter's wheel then manipulated):

New starfish out of the kiln: Eddie, Joe, Jack, Deb and Troy.

Glazed cups and coral vases:

Friends at the studio!

Corey throwing on the wheel. He is participating in the Whitefish ArtWalk this Saturday. He throws big, beautiful bowls that are brightly glazed. Hey--is that Joanna in the background?!

Troy and Sarah! These guys ROCK! Sarah throws beautiful (perfect) funcional ware, like groovy mugs and amazing tea pots and Troy does a lot of handbuilding; He's been working on masks that are very expressive and unique.

This is Mike. He's one of the nicest guys I know. He throws perfect tea pots, mugs and bowls. And he has got glazing down to a science.