ARTIST STATEMENT

I am blessed beyond measure to live and breathe in a world surrounded by people I love, while doing the work I feel called to do. Husband, father, educator, and artist, these are the hats I wear throughout the day, each role shaping and influencing the others.

As a visual artist, I am most drawn to clay and photography, though over the past two to three decades, I have explored many different mediums. Being made in the image of the Creator, I believe we all share an innate desire to create and to respond to the world around us. My own work is a celebration of my small place on this planet, and through these mediums, I feel I can honor that calling.

I admit that much of my art is created for myself, yet I believe artists are also cultural curators and historians. I am especially fascinated by clay as both a tool for archiving messages and as a material that quietly serves daily life. In nearly every great civilization, it is pottery that endures, telling stories about its makers long after fabrics have deteriorated and paints have faded. Ceramic pieces, some thousands of years old, remind me that what we create often outlives us. That truth is always present in my mind as I work with clay.

Photography, for me, is another way to showcase the people and places I am passionate about. My family and friends are often my subjects, as I love creating visual windows into a moment so that lives can be celebrated across time and distance. One of photography’s challenges is that a portrait of someone’s child may hold priceless meaning for one person but feel irrelevant to another. Images that resonate universally are harder to create, but the joy for me lies in the entire process, from the subconscious kindling of an idea to the completion of the final piece. Ultimately, my day-to-day work is the result of an intersection of passion, a little talent, and opportunity, I can only thank God for.

I appreciate you for taking the time to view my work.