Raised on a farm in the Midwest gave me the basic love of working with my hands and creating something from the earth. As a young woman, I often found that I was comfortable outdoors in nature. In that comfort I augmented many of my values and beliefs that later became a source for my work in both content and subject. I was blessed with a large extended family and almost weekly we shared joy, excitement and pain together at large gatherings. Often these experiences and my interaction with natural forms mesh together in my work. These natural forms often become the "voices" and emotions of important events in my past. They have become part of a personal visual dialogue expressing pleasure, peace, love, nature's simplicity, and joy in my work.
I utilize multiple clay types within; stoneware and earthenware, along with various high and low fire glazes to expose each piece's personality. Generally, I apply color and texture that relates to realistic forms, however, my abstract work allows me the freedom to convey total emotional expression. Original carvings and textures applied to my work provide a synergy that complements the designs of each piece. My styles; whether wheel-thrown, coiled, or hand-built, range from realism, contemporary, abstract, to whimsical.
I have had the opportunity to design and create a number of, site-specific, 'Public Art' tile murals. My work covers a wide range of materials and imagery, thus allowing my design decisions to apply specifically for the unique requirements of each undertaking. The scale of my work varies as well, from small, intimate pieces to large-scale projects involving site relationships and landscape design. I prefer a hands-on approach when it comes to the creation of my work and often encourage to community to participate in the actual construction of the mural.
I love teaching young people as well as adults to express themselves through clay. I have been instructing the design and development of wheel throwing for beginners through advanced students for several years. I also teach hand building and glazing techniques to a number of groups. I'm proud to see my students develop a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work, which builds self-confidence and leads to a more positive life.
The enjoyment of my passion is in knowing my work puts a
‘Smile on your face’.
Galleries: Inner Eye Gallery,
Exhibits: ‘All
and Museum,
‘Celebrating the Art of the
Museum, Surprise, AZ 2006
‘8th Annual Abstraction Online Juried Exhibit’; Upstream
People Gallery,
‘Welcome to the Wild’; Friends of Columbian Park Zoo
Juried Show;
‘The Night Visions’;
'Your Fired'; All Arizona Clay Exhibition at the West Valley Art
Museum, Surprise, AZ., November 9th, 2007, through Januray
7th, 2008.
'Argillaceous Art'; Arizona Clay Juried Show at WVAM,
Surprise, AZ, February 13 --April 12, 2009.
'Arizona Clay at NCECA'; Hyatt Hotel Phoenix, April 7-11,2009
'Celebrating Art of the West Valley IV'; May 22-September 6,
2009.
Public Art:
“Gateway to a Live Long Journey of Learning”: Dedicated to the
“Heritage Tree” Capturing our past to share with the future
making our individual mark in history, Created by Artist Connie Whitlock and supporting artists Helen Gilmore and
Lynne Shanrock for the City of
Members and Staff of the
Heritage Community Center, where the community's teens
participated in the creation. February -- May 2008
Art Organizations I belong to:
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-WHAM – located in the
(Founder/President)
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'Taste of the Arts' event at Marley Park- February 2008.
First Annual West Valley Home and Art Studio Tour - sponsored
by West Valley Arts Council. March 2008
Estrella Mountain Home Tours - March 25th, 2009
