Artist Statement

It is important to me that my work be wearable, accessible, stimulating to touch and see, and also evoke a feeling of spirituality. By incorporating panels of embossed metal I allow my subconscious to be recorded through a process of automatic writing. I strive for a balance between these images and the conscious decision making inherent in the creative process. I am committed to using natural materials and continuing the rich tradition they have held in the history of adornment.

I approach my work in a way that is similar to an assemblage artist. I bring together different parts or elements to create an overall image. However, I also create all the individual elements, allowing the piece to evolve at various times during creation.

I usually begin with a rough sketch of an idea or design. I may sketch I5 to 20 ideas at one time or maybe only 2 or 3. Ideas for pieces come to me not only in the studio, but often when daydreaming. Long car rides, and waiting for appointments have resulted in some of my best ideas. From these rough sketches I'll choose 5 to I0 pieces to focus on, depending on their complexity.

A commitment to the idea or design is necessary at some point. In my work this occurs when drawing on the plates that are used in the embossing process. Working from my sketches I refine the shapes of the elements as I draw.

To achieve embossing on the silver, I produce plates in much the same way as an intaglio printmaker. I put a resist on a metal plate, draw through the resist exposing areas of the plate, and then etch. The exposed areas are eaten away by the acid etchant, leaving recessed areas. I then sandwich the etched plate and a piece of silver together and put it through a rolling mill, a tool that applies pressure between two rollers. Under pressure, the silver is forced into the etched-out areas of the plate. The result is a piece of silver that has a rich embossed surface. Due to the nature of this process the plates may only be used l or 2 times.

Drawing on the plates is one, of the most exciting processes of creating my jewelry. The outline of the shape is first drawn and then the shapes are filled in. Drawing within the shapes becomes a spontaneous affair with subconscious or automatic writing. I often become so absorbed in the drawing process that I am unaware of my surroundings and the passing of time.

All the embossed pieces are cut, filed and sanded. I arrange the elements of the piece on my bench, making decisions about what needs to be added or eliminated. I rarely look at the original sketches at this time so that the piece can take on a life of its own. I bring in stones, beads or other materials to complete my design. After I have figured out the piece, I solder where necessary, and make parts that are dependent on each other to fit properly and function independently and in concert.

At this point. I refer back to the original sketch., I often find the piece to be very different from the sketch, and I resketch the piece in order to have a guide for the finishing process.

Before finishing, I fuse the small pieces of 24 KT gold to the surface of the silver. This is a fusing process called Kum-Boo, where a diffusion of the molecules of the two metals creates a permanent bond.

The finishing process begins with oxidizing, polishing, and waxing all the metal elements. All finishing is done by hand to insure the crispness of the embossed images. I then assemble all the elements into a finished piece. Although the majority of the elements are committed to the piece, there is still room for subtle changes. They are not completely finished until I try the work on to see how they feel. If the pieces are centered, balanced and comfortable when worn, I then sign, date and number each piece.

Care of Work: All my work is waxed to protect the surface. To clean, use a soft cloth and lightly rub the surfaces. Do not use silver polish, rouge cloth or a sunshine cloth. These will remove the oxidized finish.

Biographical Sketch

I live in northern California in the small coastal town of Trinidad, CA., with my daughter Brittany and my cat Lyle. Trinidad, gives me an environment for creating and quiet living. I enjoy the slow pace, the familiar faces and the sounds and smells of the ocean. I work at home in my studio and feel fortunate to be able to do what I love.

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Gallery Affiliations