My introduction into the world of art occurred when I was fifteen years old. I soon developed a passion for making ceramics and making jewelry using metals. I owe much of this to my high school art teacher, Mr. Bruce Kaupanger and my college Professors, Patrice Wernlund and Randy Johnston. Art plays an immense role in my life because I feel that it completes me. It allows me to express myself and explore new horizons before me in a concrete and malleable format. Expressing myself through my artwork has helped me to become the [
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My introduction into the world of art occurred when I was fifteen years old. I soon developed a passion for making ceramics and making jewelry using metals. I owe much of this to my high school art teacher, Mr. Bruce Kaupanger and my college Professors, Patrice Wernlund and Randy Johnston. Art plays an immense role in my life because I feel that it completes me. It allows me to express myself and explore new horizons before me in a concrete and malleable format. Expressing myself through my artwork has helped me to become the person I am today.
What I love most about making ceramics is working with my hands to build, creating an object from formless mass. In my ceramic pieces I use mostly slabs and enjoy experimenting with new textures and glazing techniques. My metals work allows me to combine many different elements into one, Some of the techniques I employ to create my jewelry pieces include hammer work, bezels or prong settings, texture, granulation, and chain making. I live for the challenge of taking rough sketch and figuring out how to make it into reality.
In my compositions, I love contrasting different textural surfaces, combining them with others that have a lively finish. I start each of my creations with the goal of creating a piece that portrays the energy and vitality that life evokes. I draw inspiration from the many different colors, textures, and shapes that I have seen in my everyday life as well as in the places that I have traveled to. I try to create a piece that will stir emotion or thought in those that observe it.
I am an artist because every piece that I create is a piece of myself. Art is not just creation; it is a genesis. With each new piece I begin a new exploration of myself and the world around me. [
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