Growing up, creating art just for myself was an important part of my life. During my childhood and teens, I sketched and dabbled in painting.
In college, two other passions emerged, and I majored in biology with a strong background in anthropology. After earning a bachelors degree, my husband and I moved to North Carolina where I attended graduate school in pathology. Art took a back seat for a long time
After several years, it was time to return to creative activities that had brought me so much joy. I enrolled in Ceramics courses at Elon University in Elon, NC. There I discovered clay sculpture, spending countless hours in the studio and loving every minute. I took classes at other institutions, and workshops with some of the country’s best ceramic artists. It has been my great fortune to win awards on the national and international levels and to be invited to participate in exhibitions with some phenomenal artists!
Today, in addition to creating art in the studio, I am an artist-in-the-schools in North Carolina. My programs integrate hand building in clay with science, social studies and many other subjects, and meet the state’s Standard Course of Study. Also, I teach students of all ages and levels of experience at my studio, Out of the Fire, in beautiful, historic Saxapahaw.
In an unexpected twist, I also design and create jewelry! In the last few years, I developed a sensitivity to base metals. After remaking and redesigning some earrings I purchased but was unable to wear, I had a collection of tools and wonderful beads. One thing led to another and I now have over 70 designs. I create pieces that I would like to wear—some are slightly edgy, others elegant, many with bold shapes and colors.
Recently, I started making bracelets. The journey continues…