I began throwing pottery in 1992. It began as a curious hobby that is now, well over a decade later, getting the serious attention it deserves. My focus with pottery is towards function. I work with both stoneware and porcelain, as each material has its own allure. My early work, at the University of Vermont in Burlington, VT, was fired in a gas kiln (in reduction - a kiln atmosphere with reduced oxygen levels) to cone 10 (2381° F). My current work, at the South Seattle Community College in Seattle, WA, is fired in electric kilns (in oxidation - a kiln atmosphere with natural oxygen levels) to cone 6 (2232° F), so that's been quite a transition for me. I'm currently being amazed at how different cone 6 glazes are from cone 10 glazes (at just 150° difference!), and how much a little oxygen can change a glaze!