IN THE U.S. I KNOW WHERE CLAY COMES FROM... an Art or Ceramic Supply Store. It comes in a plastic bag, ready to use in a variety of tones, textures and ranges of firing tempuratures. In Mexico, not so. I was told to look under my feet. It took me several months of investigation and aggravation to finally believe it... But, if I really wanted to work in clay, that was what I was going to have to do...

Little did I know that this quest for clay would change my life... It would lead me on one of the most educational, enriching and inspiring artistic journeys of my life.

In El Tuito, just an hour south of Puerto Vallarta, I found more than clay... I found a home, a family, a magical town.  I found joy and  the artistic inspiration to re-create a new way of living my life.  

Most of the clay I dig comes from either the side of the road or private property where we pay a small fee to come and dig with a pick axe, a few flour sacks full... I have not yet found moist clay by the riverside ready for use.  Along with digging the clay, we also go to a dry river bed and collect washed river sand to add to the clay to make it more resistant to breakage during firing and less sticky so that it can be formed and hold form.  We crush and sift both ingredients by hand - about 2/3 clay and 1/3 or less sand.  We then mix with water and wedge (or knead, in baking terms).  This is now the clay that I use to create my work. The pieces are then fired either in the wood burning traditional kiln in El Tuito or my electric kiln in Puerto Vallarta depending on the desired end result.

I am  ever so grateful to not have found clay to buy in the store and to have had the opportunity to dig for clay in Mexico.