Clay Alchemy Studio sits beside an arroyo near the mountains of Santa Fe, nestled among ancient juniper and piñon trees in the high desert of northern New Mexico.

Each piece created here is one of a kind: the carvings, designs and glazes all depend on the shape and size of the vessel that forms on the potter's wheel. All work is done meticulously by hand; I never know what the end result will be, and that is part of the alchemy of this work.

Many of the wild plants and grasses surrounding my studio are incorporated as design elements in my work. Using both red and white clays, I paint the leaves and imprint them into the leather-hard clay, creating a tactile record of a living plant.

Some of my pieces remain partly unglazed, highlighting the natural beauty of the clay. There is a slight roughness, a warmth to the clay that signals an almost primal sensibility in the hands. The spirit of New Mexico's high desert provides endless inspiration, and is imbued in my work.