Inthe mid-80’s I went through the Graphic Arts program at Spokane Falls Community College.  This has influenced my artwork tremendously because the program, at that time, included all mediums including wood & paper sculpture, lost wax casting, figure drawing, silk-screening, illustration, acrylics, water-colors, color and composition as well as art history.  The Art History class offered a three week art tour of museums, galleries, etc. in Europe in 1987 and I was able to go on that trip. I have drawn on these experiences throughout my art career.

    I started making jewelry about five years ago. At first, it was simply stringing gemstones using purchased pendants and beads.  I took a Jewelry Fabrication class from Laura Dahl at the Spokane Art School and was fascinated with the processes of working with metals. However, the expense of the tools (hydraulic presses, drill presses, acetylene tanks, etc.) plus the room needed to use those tools became an issue and I had to abandon the idea of silver-making at that point.  Then I became aware of PMC, Precious Metal Clay.  Sculpting has always been an interest of mine and when I started working in PMC, I loved it.  I got my certification in PMC and have been teaching in Spokane ever since. Combining enamels, resins, and experimenting with different metals while designing in PMC has been very challenging.   Trying to figure out how to incorporate different types of stones or materials into PMC designs keeps me awake at night.

    While making jewelry is still my primary interest, photography has always been close to my heart, too. This year I am getting a little more serious about trying to take better pictures and am actually matting and framing a few of them!  Handmade photo cards was the next step and so it goes.

    It is the love of making things, putting things together, working with your hands and mind that drives an artist to his/her studio and to the pursuit of those dreams….