Madison, WI Art has always been an integral part of communication for me. With clay and glazes, I tell stories, convey beauty, and reflect wishes on functional pottery or sculptural vessels. My work is mainly with wheel thrown and altered forms using wax resist glazing on high fire porcelain. Figurative and abstract imagery create a dynamic surface on some pieces, while others are quietly glazed in one or two colors.Travels and studies in the southwestern United States and in Mexico, Japan and my own backyard have been major influences on my work and style, while historic traditions of my medium are something I constantly refer to..The vessels are created in a way that encourages the viewer to walk around the piece or rotate it to see the various aspects of the firing.I would like to continue in this work by further exploration of the themes of self-expression and unique vision in finding perspectives of individual people or ordinary characters from different cultures in my community to recognize and portray them in my art. Depicting people and stories on vessels made of clay is a very traditional and permanent artform, lasting thousands of years. The ancient pottery of the Anasazi and the Greeks continue to inspire people today with their imagery of epic characters, creatures, and everyday life.