the work

I work with vitreous enamel which is the china like color you see in my work. It is powdered glass which I sift onto the metal shapes and fire in a kiln at 1400 degrees in very small batches. I fire each individual piece a minimum of three times with layers of enamel to achieve a more variegated appearance. My aim is to mimic colors and textures found in nature and let the variable nature of firing glass in a kiln be what makes each piece one of a kind.

The work begins with raw stock materials; sterling silver, copper, gold and bronze sheet and wire, vitreous enamel, wood and semiprecious stones. The metal is cut, carved, hammered, formed and sanded by hand until the design becomes material. I have always enjoyed the physicality and repetition involved in making things. It makes me feel like Gepetto and I like that. I’m most happy working with my hands.

inspiration

I am inspired by nature and simple everyday objects used in daily life. The colors, textures and forms found in just the plant world alone provide endless material for me to create from. Im also interested in works of art from antiquity and the way that humans have found universal beauty in certain shapes and how we repeat those forms over and over again into the present day. I also love the sentimental, personal nature of jewelry and hope that my pieces can become a part of someones story, part of their daily lives.