"Painting is my passion and joy. Over the past 45 years, I have explored a variety of surfaces on which to paint. I began with canvas, then paper, and now I paint primarily on clay pottery and wood. My pottery is functional and meant for everyday use. The iris pattern was introduced in 1975, followed by the rose in 1980, the orchid in 1998, and, most recently, the bamboo in 2002. These patterns evolve in color and composition over time. My wood paintings are influenced by a Chinese-brush painting instructor from 30 years ago. The simple, expressive brush-strokes are combined with stamped patterns and textures taken directly from my pottery designs. The combination of these elements is interesting. I will continue painting pottery and wood in tandem until I am too old to do one or the other - which seems too far in the future to consider."