I am an Art Education student who also enjoys painting and ceramics. In the classroom my joy is found in connecting with the students and being a positive figure in their everyday lives.

 In my artwork whether it is in painting or ceramics taking elements from nature and adding my own colorful and unique way is my way of creating what I believe are pieces of peace and joy. For me I find pure joy and absolute peace when I’m around water. Through painting landscape mostly depicting water scenes I am creating spaces for my mind and the viewer’s mind to have a place to take a deep breath and have a moment to breath. In my ceramics my pieces have influences from nature as well as vintage pots. By combining these influences with bright color, I create organic yet delicate pottery. In making these pieces I focus on and building and manipulate the clay in a carefree way. The forms of my pieces are made to fit comfortably into the hands of whoever holds them. The hand built texture and bright colors are my way of creating a visual journey for the viewer to experience in the every day. The world is a chaotic and often times overwhelming place, so in creating these paintings or ceramics I seek to use these as a way to allow for a sense of a calming joy.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself?

Enjoy the late nights and use that time to connect with people around you and build a strong and encouraging community.

Late nights in the ceramics studio with dancing to music and creating beautiful pieces of pottery.

All of my ceramics classes are my favorite, but particularly ceramics 3 because the professor and students encouraged as well as challenged each other. Through this we built a strong community of artists and I learned so much about myself and the work I want to make throughout college and beyond. 

What moment, project, and/or critique in your Art + Design career at AU has been pivotal to who you are as an artist or creator?

The first critique in ceramics 2 was pivotal for me because that is when I first got a taste for the style of ceramics I knew I wanted to pursue . 

I will be teaching secondary art.

I hope my art excites wonder and curiosity for nature as well as in oneself.

For the show I will be showcasing my favorite and most pivotal ceramics work that shows the style of art I have developed throughout multiple years of ceramics classes.