My goal as an artist is to create artwork which reflects the environment in which I live in. I have lived all but 4 years of my life on Vancouver Island, the majority of those years spent in Gold River. I have been strongly influenced by the beauty of the islands rugged coastlines and majestic wildlife as well as the history and art of the first nations. Our environment is constantly changing due to man and mother nature. The population of the island is growing rapidly as is the pace of clear cutting, which has altered landscapes to unrecognizable states. So too is the fragile state of our waterways and the life that depends on them. I like to think of each ceramic piece as a time capsule in a sense, capturing a glimpse of this period of time I have been blessed with on the island and perhaps in a historical sense, documenting the landscape and wildlife of our era. With global environmental issues being forefront today, I had to take a look at what I am doing as an artist to make a difference. As a result, I am now using almost solely terra sigillatas (clay) and engobes in my decorating to minimize the chance of pollutants leaching into the environment. I have also recently downsized my studio to one which is half the size and more energy efficient. If everyone would make a couple minor changes, it would translate to major changes to the earth’s health in the future. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.' Luke 12: verse 48. We have been given much and it's up to us as to what we do with it.