Artist’s Statement

I have enjoyed a lifetime love of art and dabbled in many disciplines throughout the years. But I became hooked on wearable art after taking jewelry-making and polymer clay classes in 1991. In the early years, my focus was on creating jewelry designs from purchased beads as well as my handmade polymer clay components.

In 2003, after retiring from a 30-year career with the State of Ohio, I expanded my designs with the use of Precious Metal Clay (“PMC” is fine silver particles suspended in an organic binder, formed, then fired in a kiln resulting in jewelry made of fine silver). Not long after adding PMC to my designs, I began to add traditional metalsmithing as well as enameling to my body of work.

My current focus is on cloisonné enameling as well as metalsmithing. Cloisonné is the formation of designs using very thin metal bands (fine silver or 24 karat gold) and firing them into a layer of glass enamel. Then the various sections, known as cloisons, are “painted” with fine layers of ground glass to add the colors and shading. This typically takes between 15 to 20 separate firings in a kiln at 1450 degrees.

I am a certified PMC instructor, a former board member of the Columbus Chapter of the PMC Guild, a member of the national PMC Guild, a lifetime member of the Columbus Polymer Clay Guild (and one of its founding members) as well as a lifetime member of the International Polymer Clay Association.  I was also a 7-year member of the well-known artist’s co-op “Studios on High” in Columbus’ Short North district. My work has been included in two books on PMC. The polymer clay color studies included in this portfolio were created when I was a member of “The Color Explorers”, a group that provided encouragement and input in 2005 in advance of the book “Polymer Clay Color Inspirations” by authors and artists Lindly Haunani and Margaret Maggio.

I express my artistry through unique, contemporary, designs, and I am always interested in exploring and integrating new techniques and materials. I take joy in designing and fabricating my jewelry. It is my goal that the finished product reflects that.