THE BACKSTORY

I was introduced to arts and crafts at a very young age. My mother, who is an amazing artist and painter, was always coming up with creative ideas and projects for us to do. One that stands out was when we’d shave crayons onto wax paper and, using a clothing iron, melt and spread the crayons turning them into an unpredictable abstract of color. However, my favorite was when she would mix flour, salt, and water to make a dough that molded like clay. Once we made our “sculptures”, we would put them in the oven to bake so they would harden. When you think about it, I was subtly introduced to working with clay at a very young age and didn’t even realize it.

My father also played a huge part in my creativity. He always had a 3-dimensional project he was working on; whether it was building a deck, landscaping his flawless yard, or concocting some of the best food you have ever eaten. This all played such a huge part in my life, especially the cooking since it is one of my favorite things to do away from my work. His music taste also has been a big influence over the years. When I’m in the studio working, you will most likely find smooth jazz echoing off the walls since that is what my Dad listens to, whether he is in the yard or cooking one of my grandmother’s recipes. It’s both the nostalgia and witnessing the passion he has for so many things that makes me want to connect to those feelings.

Throughout my college days and somewhat after, I played in several bands. Even though I’m not touring or playing every weekend, I still spend a lot of time with my instruments. Being a drummer in some of those projects reflects in my work as I gravitate towards dancing pots and movement within my pieces. However, playing guitar is what I’ve stuck to the longest. Whether it was doing small tours with The Weeks, jamming at Ground Zero, or spending hours in my office honing my skills, my passion for music is one thing that has never swayed.

I graduated with a BFA in graphic design with an emphasis in photography from Delta State, but with only two semesters left, I decided to take a pottery class. Within a month, I was more obsessed with pottery than anything I had ever done. It became a necessity to the point where I removed myself from most everything in college life and stayed in the studio any where from 10 to 12 hours or more a day, 7 days a week. There were times that I would wake up in the middle of the night, drive to campus, and go into the pottery classroom because that was all I could think about. My ceramics professor, Ky Johnston, played a huge part in my ability to create on an endless basis, and I can’t thank him enough for giving me the freedom to be who I am. He was so inspiring to me with his ability, and his laid back approach relieved pressure and expectations which helped me reach my full potential.

After only a few months of working with clay I was accepted into Penland School of Crafts for a summer program. It was there that I was introduced to atmospheric firing using salt, soda, gas, and wood kilns-soda being my favorite. The reason I gravitated towards this type of firing was because you literally painted with fire.

When I returned home I decided to open a studio which was named Foxtrot. I operated out of that gallery for over 5 years, but some big life changes happened. I got engaged and shut down shop, selling off my gas kiln but keeping all of my supplies because I knew one day I would have the opportunity to start again. That was 10 years ago and I’m back at it full force. I’m not sure why I ever stopped because when my hands are in clay, nothing else in the world matters. My mind can be going 100 miles per hour with all of life’s challenges, but as soon as I sit down at the wheel, my mind, body, and soul are completely at peace.