I grew up in Sandusky, Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie. Art began as an escape from the other eight family members! I often found myself off alone in the adjacent fields and woods daydreaming and making things with whatever I could find. Art is the place I could go to connect with myself and God.

My passion for working with non-ferrous metal began in 1976 (after graduating from a high school that had a great art department!) I had met one of our town’s local silver smiths at the “Rock Shop” I soon began fabricating sterling silver jewelry and setting stones.

A move to Athens, OH in 1978, exposed me to wild weave basketry. And although I still continued to make jewelry, more time was spent weaving vines into baskets. In 1986 I moved to Austin TX where I met full time jewelry artists that took me under their wings and taught me more about not only jewelry techniques but, where to network and market my work. It was in TX that I developed a line of figurative silver pieces that I sold at fine art shows, galleries, gift shops and to individuals.  These “silver dancers” inspired me to recreate them in copper as sculpture. I believe it was a “God” thing that I found a copper sculptor that was willing to spend endless hour teaching, encouraging and giving me the extra push to keep going.

From 1996 to 2002 I was involved on and off with Laughing at the Sun Gallery in Austin, TX. I was privileged to be a part of an incredible art scene. This is the gallery that introduced me to many, many artists and different mediums. From my studio behind the gallery (“Made in the Shade”) I began teaching silver soldering jewelry classes and working on the woven copper sculptures. This was also the beginning of a shift towards larger works.

I spent the years of 2003-2006 making all sizes of copper crosses. I had a thriving wholesale business as well as doing one of a kind work for private individuals and churches and hospitals.

Presently, I have been  traveling back and forth between Santa Fe NM and Austin TX every month or so teaching silver jewelry workshops and spending time working on a new contemporary hinged jewelry pieces  and sculpture. One seems to feed the other.

I have always been blessed to find teachers along the way that have shared their knowledge, patience, and love of creating with me. Now I hope that I have become one of those teachers.  What once began as an escape is now the place I live.