My work is stoneware and porcelain reduction fired ware. Shino, ash, celedon, and copper reds are the glazes I generally work with.

Shino is a high feldsapathic glaze which many American potters today are using. It has an interesting property in that the glaze melts early in the firing and can trap carbon under the glaze. This makes for a highly uncontrollable glaze that offers, when you are lucky, really beautiful effects. Often, the shinos are complimented with ash glazes because I like the contrasts this combination presents. The third group of glazes I'm using is celedons - glazes that use iron oxide in a reduction atmosphere to turn various shades of green. I'm regularly testing new celedons for different tones, which can be matt or shiny.

Like iron oxide, copper reacts to a reduction atmosphere giving brilliant reds when I get it right. I like contrasting a matt black with the red, and am presently testing for an eggshell matt white to work with this glaze.

In the past, my potter's wheel was where most of the pots were made, but today I am slabbing out more and more forms, and using hump and slump molds to form the piece, and then often throwing a foot or a base on the slabbed pot. I am spending a good bit of time on large covered jars, which I have always loved to make, and also large platters. These are all waxed and glazed several times and then fired once. The kiln is fired to 2300 degrees F. This past year, I built a second car kiln which is smaller and allows me to fire about twice a month. I'm hoping to salvage hard brick this fall and get to work on a soda kiln. Then a whole new direction will open.

Firing the kiln is a process that generally takes 24 to 30 hours. It is fired with propane and requires my attention at least once an hour. There is nothing automatic about my kiln and I am constantly trying to figure it out. Something like dealing with a headstrong child! It cools for two days before I can open it. This new kiln allows me to fire often, which I find helps the learning curve.

For several years, my son and I have been experimenting with a translucent porcelain paperclay. We have been making luminaries or lamps from the translucent panels. The material is fascinating and demanding, and I feel that it could develop into many different directions in the future.

My pottery is meant for use. I'm always open to ideas and working with a person on their conception if it strikes me. The ware is oven and dishwasher safe. Microwave use depends on the amount of iron that might react to microwaves. The glazes are food safe.