This piece is called "Enlightningment," a tongue-twister of a name but a way to combine lightning with enlightenment to describe this figure. She holds a lightning bolt which pierces her right hand and has a surprised look on her face, as one might when suddenly struck with an "ahah!" idea. Just for fun I made her hair stand on end with zig-zag copper wires, suggesting a cartoonish representation of an electric shock. She won a Patron's Purchase Prize at our state fair this year - it was the first time I had shown her, and she was gone before I knew it! I do miss her; she's one of my favorites.

This sculpture is one of a series of pieces in which I have combined a found object (usually a piece of rusty metal) with two figural pieces made from clay. In each scene, the people are interacting with each other in some way, but it is not clear what is going on between them. In fact, the scenario is deliberately ambiguous so that the viewer can create their own interpretation of the narrative. I like the juxtaposition of the raw, rusty metal with the earthy textures and colors of the clay. And it is interesting how my ideas for the works emerge from the found pieces themselves; they suggested what the figures that go with them might look like. Seems like you would start with the human parts of the sculpture, but in this case, the humans turned out to be products of the found objects. Weird, huh?

I just call this piece "Pisces." It is one of three fish sculptures I have done recently, and I especially like this one. (It sold right away too!) It is created of white earthenware which I gave a crackled surface to. The texture of the surface is highlighted with iron oxide, and the ultimate impression is of a sculpture carved of bone. I hope I can re-create this finish because it is so stunning. So often, though, even though you think you know exactly how you did something the first time, it seems to be impossible to get the same outcome again. We'll see .....

Crow-matic Quandry. Here a pair of crows sit eyeing the black and white egg which rests between them.

I made the piece for the fun of it, mostly, but I hope it might also lead people to think about the black, whites, and greys that make up our lives - where do they come from, how do they develop, and how do they affect us?

When the Fat Lady Sings. This is one of a series of sculptures I have done of generously-endowed singers. They could be into opera, gospel, or any other passionate musical style. Her head thrown back in full voice, this one wears an audacious rhinestone brooch at her plunging neckline. They are just fun to look at, and people who see them in my studio always have to smile at them.

This one is an example of the series; I always try to keep 3 or 4 ready to go, but they change fairly consistently. This one is sold, but if you would like to see pictures of others currently in stock, please let me know via email.

Height of figure about 8". $125

Blooming Arms.

I think these pictures speak for themselves. This sculpture plays on the contrast between destructive, killing devices (a grenade and bullets) and the life-giving force of nature, symbolized here by the flowers and bullets as new buds.

Medium: earthenware with a painted and waxed finish, terra sigillata, and wire

This sculpture is called "Contemplation." To me, the figure seems deep in thought, as though weighing several important alternatives - maybe balancing competing aspects of a decision she must make. She is made of terra cotta with its natural color enhanced just a bit by a wax finish, giving it a satiny finish

Insouciance - a figural sculpture of a woman totally at ease, relaxed amid her bed clothes.

8 x 8 eyes - four crows (8 eyes) sitting on an old chair, inspecting four eggs (8 new eyes) in a nest constructed where the seat of the chair once was. This piece was made especially for a show at Gallery 80808 on 08/08/08.

Scottish Roots - the title of this piece comes from the weathered roots of an old dead heather plant that I found in Scotland. I combined several of the roots to make the "figure" mounted on this disk.

Turtles - this is a close-up view of a herd of turtles that I created for an installation. I made about 80 of the small turtles (about 3-4 in. long), each with unique heads, faces, and colored oxide finishes.

Considering the Alternatives - this thoughtful girl just emerged almost on her own from a block of clay. I could see her there and just carved away what I needed to to release her.

When the fat lady sings - one of a series of such figures. They are great fun to make, and people seem to like them. You just have to smile when you look at them. Each one is an individual with a unique face, gesture, and dress.

T in O Map - an abstract version of a Medieval form of world map known as a "T in O." I have done a series of these (I'm a former cartographer), and have others I can show you.

Moon and Starfish - combining the sky and sea in a different way.

Baba Yaga's Hut - just a fun piece based on the Russian fairy tale of a witch who lived in a hut built on chicken legs.

Polar Bear - an abstract representation of a beautiful animal whose future existence is in danger.

Hurricane Katrina - one of three large disks I created, inspired by Hurricane Katrina's strike in Louisiana and Mississippi. The textures and patterns represent various aspects of the water, wind, and land involved in the event.