Artist Statement

I am a visually impaired functional potter with over a decade of experience, working from a home studio in Palo Alto, CA. My practice centers on functional, repetitious forms such as dinnerware and everyday functional forms, each made by hand and subtly different from the next. By working in multiples, my forms evolve slowly over time through repetition, use, and continual refinement.

I work across multiple forming techniques: wheel-thrown, slab-built, and slipcast. Through color and surface, I explore and communicate my visual point of view. Texture, contrast, and repetition become tools for engagement, inviting touch and use while emphasizing durability and accessibility in everyday objects.

Studio Practice

Independent Studio Potter · 2022 – Present
Home Studio, Palo Alto, CA

Produce functional dinnerware and functional forms using wheel-throwing, slab building, and slip casting. Maintain b2wceramics.com as an educational resource covering techniques, glaze chemistry, and materials.

Studio Artist · 2014 – Present
Palo Alto Art Center – Palo Alto, CA

Over 10 years of continuous studio practice at the Palo Alto Art Center.

Work Experience

Volunteer – Patient Escort & Staff Liaison · Sep 2023 – Nov 2024
VA Hospital – Palo Alto, CA

Escorted patients throughout the facility and communicated with medical and administrative staff to coordinate patient needs. Developed strong interpersonal skills in a professional healthcare environment.

Operations Intern · Jun 2019 – Aug 2019
Benetech – Palo Alto, CA

Created responsive web pages to support students with disabilities transitioning from high school into college and the workplace. Maintained front-end code to documentation standards and collaborated with staff.

Radiology Intern · Jul 2017 – Aug 2017
Stanford University Radiology Department – Stanford, CA

Supported faculty and administrative staff with academic and office duties including proofreading research papers, document scanning and filing, and virtual file management.

Note: Between 2019 and 2022, I was focused on finishing high school during the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2022 to the present, I have been deepening my ceramic practice full-time at the Palo Alto Art Center and my home studio.

Technical Skills

• Forming Techniques: Wheel-throwing, Slab building, Slip casting, Mold making, Nerikome (colored clay), Paper clay
• Surface & Decoration: Glazing, Glaze making, Glaze chemistry, Screenprinting, Sgraffito, Mishima, Mocha diffusion, Cuerda seca, Slip trailing & marbling, Slip decoration (midrange, highfire), Wax resist, Tape resist, Fluting, Underglaze decoration, Bubble glazing, Peacock glazing
• Firing: Electric kiln operation
• Knowledge & Outreach: Ceramic education, Cone 6 and Cone 10 glaze recipes for functional work, written instruction for beginner through advanced potters
• Professional: Excellent written and oral communication, customer service, MS Office Suite, Google Docs, general office administration, dependable and detail-oriented

Education & Training

Ceramics Studio Practice · 2014 – Present
Palo Alto Art Center – Palo Alto, CA

Ongoing studio training in wheel-throwing, handbuilding (slab), slipcasting, mold making, and glazing.

Self-Directed Study · Ongoing
Independent

Independent research in glaze materials, Cone 6 and Cone 10 glaze formulation, slip recipes, and ceramic surface decoration.

High School Diploma · Graduated October 2020
Fusion Academy

Workshops & Continuing Education

Introduction to Clay Body Chemistry — Anderson Ranch Arts Center · Jun 22 – Jul 3, 2026 (upcoming)
Instructor: Matthew Katz — Snowmass Village, CO

Working in Porcelain — Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts · Jun 14–19, 2026 (upcoming)
Instructors: Susan Filley & Leah Leitson — Gatlinburg, TN

Techniques of Master Potters — Idyllwild Arts · Jun 8–14, 2025
Instructor: Sondra Elder — Idyllwild, CA

Chromatics in Clay — Idyllwild Arts · Jun 23–29, 2024
Instructor: Justin D’Onofrio — Idyllwild, CA

Silkscreen Printing Workshop · Feb 10–11, 2024
Instructor: Kathy Skaggs

Introduction to Moldmaking for Ceramics — Palo Alto Art Center · Aug 26–27, 2023
Instructor: Kala Stein — Palo Alto, CA

Ceramics Decal Workshop — Palo Alto Art Center · Sep 17–18, 2022
Instructor: Kala Stein — Palo Alto, CA

Digital Presence & Outreach

b2wceramics.com — Founder & Author. An educational ceramics website covering wheel-throwing, handbuilding, slipcasting, mold making, decorating techniques, glaze chemistry, and full glaze recipe libraries. Serves as a public resource for ceramicists at all skill levels.

References available upon request

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