My sculptures combine the supple forms and playful gestures of dolphins and whales with seductive nude human figures. They are vehicles for my expression of ideas around the fluidity of gender, sexual attraction, power dynamics, and beauty. These characters have evolved over time from many sources, creating openings for me into the worlds of folklore, popular culture, and art history. My specific influences include tales of mermaids from the Amazon, classic pin-up girls, and the nudes of Ingres and Manet. Creating hybrids gives me the opportunity to be both formally rigorous and playful. I am also inspired by my desire to create smooth, voluptuous forms and surfaces from the raw materials of clay and glaze.