My last insurance client, before I retired in 2005, was Dennis Zupan. He taught pottery in the Utah School Systems, Sundance Resort, and Thanksgiving Point Art League for forty years. I loved his pottery. When I conducted an insurance survey of his in-home studio, I fell in love with the clay, kilns, wheels, and the disarray. He specialized in primitive, horsehair, and raku pottery. I took my first pottery classes from Dennis. Although I make functional pottery, the alternative firing techniques remain my favorite medium today. I love the smoke and fire that make the special marks on the pots. I am fascinated by historical and spiritual pottery that has been preserved through the ages. I have endeavored to replicate prayer bowls, burning bowls, wisdom pots, and energy orbs.

I received training in throwing skills, kiln firing, and glaze chemistry from Ed Ham, Andy Watson, Same Scholes, and Tammy Rodeback. Since we moved to Rehoboth Beach, I have taken workshops from Bill VanGilder, Stephen Hill, and John Cheer.

The Biggs Museum of American Art and the Rehoboth Baech Art League are a wonderful blessing to local artists. I am grateful to display and sell some of my pottery in these beautiful spaces.