I wanted to dedicate a page on my website to those people who have inspired and helped me in my career as an artist. 

ROBIN HOPPER

The field of ceramic art is one that demands not only good aesthetic sense but a willingness to understand the technical side of the medium.  The technical road is often frustrating and can destroy weeks worth of clay making in one firing. Those of you who are clay makers know exactly what I am talking about.  In 2005, I was accepted into the Master Glaze Workshop led by Robin Hopper and located at the MISSA (Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts)  in British Columbia.  The focus of this class and ideas outlined in many of Robin's books are "Glaze and Color Development" as well as "Concepts and Exploration of Surface Development".  During the two weeks, twelve of us produced more than 10,000 test tiles and still had time for daily lectures from Robin and nightly slide shows from the artists teaching other workshops.  And as if it couldn't get any better, Pete Pinnell was teaching the beginning glaze class and was open and willing to talk to us about the process.  It was during this workshop, that I had the 'ahhh haaa' moment where all the books I had read about glazing and all the other glazing workshops I had taken suddenly made sense.  In my humble opinion, Robin Hopper and Peter Pinnell are today's foremost experts on glazing.  If you get a chance, go to MISSA.  If not, then read Robin's books, especially The Ceramic Spectrum Second Edition and Pete's articles in Clay Times.  Thank you Robin...Thank you.

Aqua Libre Glaze first developed at MISSA

then revised in the Glaze Workshop-A Primer.

PS  There are some great hiking spots in BC and Washington state-- my co-workshop companion, Kathleen Laurie, and I  hiked the Pacific Rim Park and Olympia National park after our workshop.  Sublime!

GAIL FRASIER

Gail and I shared her studio for several years and we both learned about ceramics and life from that experience.  Her work is based on nature and the vessel form.

CYNTHIA GUAJARDO

Cindy has been a student of mine at the Art Student's League for several years.  She quit coming to class for a year to pursue other interests.  She recently returned to class more excited than ever about ceramics and good knowledge of the  internet.  She convinced me to "get an internet presence".  So together we worked on this site.  But truthfully, it was mostly me watching her zoom around cyberspace.  Interesting how in life the student becomes the teacher.  Cindy has a blog that I always enjoy reading and I encourage you to subscribe.

Robert Gratiot

Rob has been my painting teacher since I returned to the brush in January of 2006.  His Photo realism artwork is visually sensual and amazing, which he describes as painterly and loose.  Loose?  Rob is an inspiring, gentle and intelligent teacher and he has taught me how to paint and, equally important to me, how to be a better teacher.