As a ceramic artist, I create sculpture, pottery, and jewelry primarily from porcelain clay. I use the potters wheel as well as hand-building techniques before intricately carving my work. The patterns I incorporate are heavily influenced by those found in the natural environment. I have always been fascinated by the spirals formed with the growth of repetitive leaves such as in succulents, flower petals, and pinecones. The beautiful order in mapping and carving these botanic and geometric designs is a mediative process for me. Wood-firing is my preferred method of firing due to the unique results that occur in the atmosphere of the kiln. Natural glazes and flashing are produced by the wood ash and the raw flame that converge with the surfaces of the clay. The many factors that go into wood firing, such as length of firing, type of wood used, and placement in the kiln ensure that each piece is one of a kind.