We buy art for our homes to do more than fill space. Art is a silent conversation starter, sharing something about who we are, where we’ve been, and what moves us. It might remind us of a place we love, evoke a memory with a cherished loved-one, or simply serve as a spark of joy in our daily lives. But the beauty of art is that its story evolves—it begins with the artist’s hands and ideas but becomes something new when it finds a home.
As an artist, storytelling is at the heart of what I do. Each piece begins with a moment of inspiration—often from nature, particularly the woodlands and coastal landscapes I hold dear. But the story doesn’t stop with me. When someone brings a piece into their space, it becomes part of their narrative, layered with new meanings and memories. It’s a kind of collaboration, an exchange of stories that breathes new life into the work.
Consider The Ocean Undulation Vase. Its textured surface brings to mind the crashing of waves against rocky shores, while the turquoise glaze inside captures the vibrant hues of the sea. I created it as a way to pause and reflect, drawing people into the crashing rhythm of a rugged coast. But once it’s in someone’s home, it could take on a completely different meaning. Maybe it becomes a reminder of a childhood spent exploring tide pools, a token of a dream to live by the water someday, or even just a grounding presence in a busy space.
This piece isn’t tied to one story—it evolves with the person who owns it, weaving itself into their life in unexpected ways.
Materials themselves also have stories to tell, especially in mixed-media and upcycled works. In some of my hanging artworks, like Riding the Wave, I combine sculpted ceramic forms with repurposed wood and elements washed up from the sea. Here, the materials’ past lives come together in a new narrative, blending the ocean’s natural gifts with the tactile artistry of clay.
Then there’s the Swell and Surge wave sculptures, artworks with a unique backstory. The mold used to make them began as a plaster cast of my belly during pregnancy—a moment in time captured and left to rest in my studio for years. Eventually, I saw it in a new light, reimagining the form as a wave. It became part of my ongoing exploration of life’s fluidity and transformation. These sculptures’ smooth turquoise interiors contrast with their frothy, textured exteriors, reflecting the duality of water’s strength and softness, inviting you to connect through touch and imagination.
Here, the story evolves: what began as a personal artifact has transformed into something universal, ready to take on new meanings in someone else’s world.
I often use contrasts in my work—rough meets smooth, organic shapes meet geometric forms. This duality speaks to the tension and harmony we experience in life. In Elysia, a sculptural vase inspired by botany and mycology, the unglazed, speckled stoneware clay connects us to nature’s raw beauty, while its sculpted forms evoke the complexity of the natural world. It’s a tribute to cycles of growth, decay, and renewal—a reminder of life’s interconnectedness.
As much as art tells my story, it’s also an open invitation for someone else to find theirs within it. Whether it’s a bold piece like Coastline, with its rugged textures reminiscent of the Mediterranean, or the organic interplay of earth and water tones in Bloom, the meaning evolves when it becomes part of someone else’s life.
This exchange—the artist’s story blending with the collector’s—is what makes art so powerful. It’s not static; it’s alive with possibility. The same piece that reminded me of crashing waves might speak to someone else of quiet mornings or joyful gatherings. And that’s the beauty of it.
Art isn’t just an object; it’s a relationship. It connects us to the places we love, to the people who inspire us, and to the stories we want to share. If that kind of connection speaks to you, I invite you to explore my work and see what stories resonate with you. Who knows? You might find a piece that becomes a chapter in your own journey.
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