As a scientist I try to understand things as they are, but in my art I can create images as I envision them to be. My raku fired ceramic tiles reflect the world I see: one structured by nature’s patterns and repetitions and by landscapes made orderly by humans. Contrasts in my designs are created through glaze types and luster while areas of smoke blackened clay create negative space. Carving and application of forms to the tile surface create depth. The overall process seeks to capture the transformational effects of light, nature, and human activity. Additionally, I create hand-built high-fired functional pieces on which my designs take on a new dimension.