I've immersed myself in the visual arts since a very early age, beginning with classes in oil painting. I loved the freedom it allowed me. Art slowly became a creative outlet for my emotions, and a necessity in my life. As I have has explored various media, I've also discovered a fondness for charcoal and oil pastels, and handmade pottery. Central to this exhibition, however, is my abiding interest in the design and creation of handcrafted jewelry.
My work in jewelry allows me to bring my long-term interest in organic forms to a three-dimensional level. I work primarily in silver, brass and copper, using all types of stones, in their original form, for the focus of pieces - I enjoy the irregular shapes of stones found in nature. I feel I can get more playful in my jewelry pieces; they are small works of art that are the result of many hours of effort. Working in metal allows me to broaden my use of textures. I can expand upon ideas I’ve explored in other media. Abstract designs, patterns and geometric shapes interest me, and working in jewelry gives me an outlet to give shape to my ideas.
I am always searching for new opportunities to grow artistically. I'm currently experimenting with a new material called Precious Metal Clay (PMC). This material allows me to take my love of organic forms and textures to another level. I'm creating a new line of work using textures in paper and cloth as my inspiration.