As a young girl I was amazed and inspired by my
father's drawings. His ability to capture the likeness of a subject with
such precision fascinated me and prompted my attempts to achieve his
skill. On top of that his fortitude and tenacity showed me his strength
and the possibilities of never giving up. He learned strength and
fortitude as a Marine. These qualities came to bear when he was afflicted
with polio. Even though his hands were paralyzed, Dad drew a beautiful gardenia,
complete with a dewdrop. It was an anniversary gift to my mother.
Gardenias were her favorite flower. She was moved by his sentiment and
cherished the drawing. I still have the
drawing.
With encouragement from my
parents and teachers I began a life-long learning process. Even though demands
of family diverted my attentions, my interest in the various forms of art
always drew me back to creating something with whatever materials that were
available. And the materials reflected my preference for the 3
dimensional arts. Through the years I would dabble in various crafts, such
as sewing, crochet, macrame and knitting, making Christmas present with each
new experiment. Each craft taught me certain important qualities of
construction. Once the demands of parenthood lessened I enrolled in
college. My studies directed me to other media, such as, plaster, wood,
cardboard, steel and finally to good old Mother Earth. I studied ceramics
but constraints of time, space and being a nuisance to my neighbors posed
problems that were solved by the introduction of metal clay. This new
product works in the same way as earthen clay so it fit my needs to a T! And,
oh what fun and endless possibilities it has!
I have found some success in
working with this metal. I continue learning as I work and all the
wonderful people that I have met along the way. I also continue to take
classes as the opportunity arises. The latest class was metalsmithing for
Jewelry taught by an excellent teacher at a local Community College. I
have also received certification in the use of Precious Metal Clay (PMC).
This entitles me to teach classes. If you are interested in learning more
contact me at [email protected]