Statement: Making art keeps my endorphins flowing in this crazy world. Growing up with a high school art teacher for a mother, creativity was woven into everyday life, and “go make something” was the family mantra. I earned a bachelor’s degree in fine art with a printmaking major, then spent my career as a graphic designer before turning to clay as a more personal, hands-on creative outlet. Color, texture, pattern, and storytelling are at the core of my work. Abstracted birds, flowers, cats, and other curious creatures, as well as humans, often appear in my sculptures and layered relief scenes that blend quirkiness with observation. After years spent clicking a mouse, I relish getting clay under my fingernails and building forms by hand. The work is tactile, messy, and deeply satisfying. I create because making things brings me happiness—and if my work sparks some joy in others, that’s the sweetest reward of all.