Artist statement:

Hi, I’m Diane, and transforming clay into unique hand-built sculptures is my passion. Influenced by nature and the various cultures I’ve met, each piece is shaped using the coil, pinch, and/or slab method.

Originally from Florida, I grew up in an artistic household, encouraged by my mother—a watercolor, acrylic, and ceramic artist. However, my route to creating my own “Yard Art” was rather circuitous. I’ve had a variety of careers in the education, tourism, and sustainable development fields for both for-profit and non-profit organizations and directed our consulting firm.

However, travel has been my touchstone. I lived in Iran and Venezuela for over a decade while visiting countries throughout the world. Along the way I’ve had some amazing adventures, from riding my Arab Stallion in the desert, being among the first travelers to enter Nepal, climbing Roraima Tepui, exploring the Galapagos Islands and Amazon Basin, scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef, and taking a one-year jeep safari throughout South America. 

Throughout this time, I enriched my life through art, primarily oil painting and photography.  While in Portland, I furthered my artistic pursuits at the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts.   But it was our move to Arizona that uncovered my love of clay. 

Today I am a resident Ceramic Artist and Instructor at Friendship Village’s Art Studios in Tempe, Arizona.  I’ve found my voice sculpting nature-based forms into richly glazed figures, creating my ClayNature world of Totems, Sculptures, and Bouquets.