ABOUT THE ARTIST: Art has been a natural part of life for Megan starting early in childhood with a mother who worked from home as a commercial artist and did not believe in coloring books. An outsider artist, Megan chose to earn her degree in Horticulture from Colorado State University. Her affinity for the plant world is the driving force behind her art work. Throughout her life Megan tried various art forms and careers in floral design and kitchen design. She never felt compelled to any one medium until she discovered her passion for clay when she took a hand-building class for fun.

She was intrigued enough to explore this new medium further by taking short courses in abstract sculpture and tile making. She joined Mississippi Mud Studio to continue learning under the guidance of Ken Bischell and many other Midwest artists. She was introduced to wheel throwing and to various modes of firing with an emphasis on wood firing. While her exploration of clay as a sculptural form has been mostly self-taught she found herself most at home with this component of the clay form. She became dedicated to expanding her understanding of this component in large hand built form, in relief carving, and in sculptural additions to wheel thrown pieces.

Firing using wood and salt was something Megan came to by good fortune. The depth and variation created in a wood fire appealed to Megan’s aesthetic and she was fortunate enough to belong to a studio where many of the artists used the method. She was able to help them with their firings and learn by doing. She has recently been working on gas firing techniques and glaze development.

After many years of earnest concentration on clay, Megan’s work is making a public appearance. She has shown her work at Art in the Garden in Dubuque, Iowa and at The Artist Guild Art Gallery in Galena, IL and Princess Potosa Gallery in Potosi, Wisconsin. She had a solo show at The Warehouse Gallery in downtown Dubuque.