My Story
I’ve been a hobby artist and maker since I was a child. I began with drawing, but have dabbled in painting, collage, paper craft, printmaking, and amateur photography. After experiencing a life-altering event in my late thirties, a friend asked me what I wanted to do in my life moving forward and my response was that I didn’t know exactly, but I wanted to create something with my hands. Little did I know it would take nearly a decade for me to figure out that was playing in the mud!
The pandemic sparked or rekindled artistic pursuits for many, myself included, and perhaps it’s true that the world will experience a 21st century renaissance. I began learning about pottery and signed up for a class at a local studio. Sitting in front of a wheel for the first time, I was immediately hooked, mesmerized by the process that begins with a lump of clay mixed with water and put into motion, transforming it into a cup, a vase, a bowl, a planter. My interest also moved off the wheel to the diverse world of hand-building and I relish the freedom and possibility found in manipulating a slab of clay into a three-dimensional piece of functional or decorative art, full of color and texture.
I am a native of Colorado with roots in New Mexico. I found my way to Tennessee by way of Texas, Missouri, and Florida. The colors, textures, flora and fauna of those landscapes often find their way into my creations. I work from my home studio in South Knoxville.
If you want to know when shop drops and local markets are planned, please subscribe. I promise never to share your information or flood you with emails.
Thank you for taking the time to visit The Joyful Potter.
Some InstaPottery
My pottery is inspired by nature, whether from memories of places I’ve lived or traveled, or from photographs I’ve taken on the beach, in the woods, or along mountain trails. I’m always fascinated by the colors and textures to be found in the world around us and try to put them together to create works of art that are visually pleasing and tactile.