Artist Statement
"You can do or accomplish anything you put your mind to doing." That's the phrase that I grew up hearing from my Dad, and I am so very grateful for the opportunity to have had that instilled in me.
So, how does that relate to my jewelry? Well, it has helped me be open to trying all kinds of materials, techniques, designs, and tools.
I don't see myself as having a specific style to my work. Rather, I am open to the materials and the process leading me to an unenvisioned conclusion. Occasionally, my finished work will turn out as first designed. But, more frequently, as I begin a piece, the original idea morphs into something quite different. Some might not be comfortable with this approach, but to me it is a much more creative process, allowing me to be surprised by the end product. My process is like life. You start out with a goal in mind, but along the way, other things happen that may change that goal and send you in another direction. You can either accept the change, embrace it and turn it into an exciting event, or you can be stubborn and make yourself miserable because things are not as you planned them. I chose to go with the former. My jewelry, like my life is an evolution of events, ideas, learning and eventual outcomes. For this reason, most of my pieces are one-of-a-kind. Some can be repeated, but that is the exception, rather than the rule. Life is too short to not keep exploring and discovering.
Classes are a great source of inspiration, as they constantly remind me that there is no end to creativity in this world. Every time you learn a new technique, or how to use a new tool or material, it opens up infinitely more possibilities in your work, and opens your mind to an exponential number of new ideas.
So, why do I choose to make jewelry? Well, because my Dad said that I could do whatever I really wanted to do!