I work in porcelain. Most of my work starts on a pottery wheel. I then add texture. For the colors, I use high temperature ceramic stains. I prefer bright colors, often in combination. In every firing, I add new colors and new color combinations. I have been experimenting with pastels.

I am also experimenting with new forms, such as altering the shape after throwing (Thrown and altered in pottery language.)

While I work in porcelain, what I do is not common. The colors and textures that I use are unique. Bright colors are more common in glass than pottery. Porcelain is usually thought of as being delicate and fine. My surfaces are bit course or slightly grainy/gritty but at the same time they have a pleasant feel. What is missing from my website is the way my work feels.

My textured work is not functional. This means, for the most part, it is decorative and cannot be used with liquids. My work can be used for dry goods such as fruit, nuts and the like.

Functional ceramics should have a sealed surface. This means have a solid glaze on them. I spray a light coat of clear glaze on my textured work, but not enough to seal the surface. If I put enough glaze on my work to make them functional, the colors become muted and the glaze conceals the texture.

All ceramics doesn’t like to be banged around. That often leads to chipping. My work is more sensitive to banging around than most pottery.

I have been making pots for more than 30 years. My style has changed significantly since I retired as a computer scientist. Retirement has allowed me to be creative and go beyond myself. I highly recommend retirement and hope everyone can attain and enjoy it

I live in a condo in Cambridge, Massachusetts in a common building called a triple decker — a 3-family building built a hundred or so years ago in which each family has a floor.

I have a small storage area (8 ft x 20 ft) in the basement and turned it into a pottery studio that includes a wheel and a kiln. Because it is small, I have to work in phases. Make, glaze, and fire. I cannot make too much at one time— no place to store it, and I need to clean up between the making and glazing phases.

As strange as it sounds, I put my textured work in the dishwasher. It removes dust and cleans very well. When I first started making this line of work, I wanted to be sure the glazes were stable and not fade over time. So, I ran some through the dishwasher several times. All is well. No changes in color or texture.