I am originally from rural upstate New York. My great grandfather was a painter trained in theHudson River School, who supported a family of ten from his artwork. Growing up, I was surrounded by his paintings and the landscapes that had inspired him. As a child, I spent many hours outdoors rambling through fields and woods, building tree forts and drawing pictures. My family was not surprised when I was inclined toward art and, because of my great grandfather’s example, very supportive. The importance of the natural world has persisted in the narrative of my work.

I also have a love for working with tools influenced by my Dad, who was mechanic. The childhood activities of drawing and fixing things in the garage formed an interest and passion for metalsmithing and jewelry making. Throught the years I’ve been captivated by classical metalsmithing techniques, fusion and forging metal. My neckpieces reference the technique of historical fused link chains in construction but have a narrative that is clearly from this century!