Two minutes

Color her creative

Day job: Ingrid Lilligren is professor of art and design, best known for her ceramic sculptures. "I've always loved making things that are beautiful and defining beauty in different ways."

Night job: She co-teaches swing dance workshops at the Octagon in Ames.

And, another job: Coordinator for "HOT CLAY," a specialized ceramics summer program at Idyllwild Arts, California.

Working artist: In the past 10 years, Lilligren's ceramics have been exhibited in four countries and 12 states. She has served as artist-in-residence in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia; Vallauris, France; and Pasadena, California.

Creating and teaching: "I think it's my responsibility professionally to my career as a teacher that I work in the studio every day."

On eggshells: In 2007, Lilligren created 243 collages, " Small Pleasures," with eggshells and dry pastels. Although identical in size and structure, the collages are as diverse as the colors of life. (For seven years, she saved nearly 400 eggshells--in shades of green, khaki, grayish-pink, grayish-green and reddish-brown.)

--Teddi Barron