Long Neck Pots!

The work of a potter holds a glimpse into the story of the artist’s life. The very nature of a potters work is found in an evolutionary process. I have had the privilege of devoting my life’s work in a daily creative pursuit with clay. A life devoted to one work affords the opportunity to not only hone excellent skills but to explore an idea to its fullest potential. I walk on this path.

My body of work over the years has themes that continue to come forth. I have been exploring form; particularly the tall elongated necked pouring vessel. As I look back for influences in my life it leads me to my beginnings; my childhood, particularly my mother, Jessie Terrill Wells. She has been a great influence in my life. She always encouraged my creative pursuits and she loved art. In our home my mother was very intentional with the placement of art and hung several Modigliani reproductions in prominent places. I stared at these ladies exaggerated long necks and the asymmetry in their facial features. These women were beautifully unique.

When you look at my work over the last 25 years I have never departed from the exaggerated long neck or the use of gesture in motion. They have evolved over the years until a long neck pouring vessel now gracefully dances upward with the purpose to delight any onlooker. My mother and Amedeo Modigliani gave this. Because of who I am, I continue to pass on this intrigue.

These two ladies hung in our home!