"My early interest in art as a child led to classes at the Delaware Art Museum and long hours spent drawing in my room. In high school and after, I interned with sculptor Charles Cropper Parks FNNS, where I gained experience in sculpture enlargement, reduction, mold making, and casting. Upon graduation, I attended The Frudakis Academy of Fine Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art in Philadelphia. I continued my education, studying glass art, mosaics, mural arts, carving, and welding. My work has been shown in galleries and shows Across the Middle Eastern United States and beyond and has been collected worldwide.

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My most recent work is of ornamented “icons” that celebrate nature, the spirit, and the imagination, combining elements of sculpture, mosaic, and painting. I start each piece with clay, and hand finish with paint, gold leaf, and mosaics of glass and semi-precious stones. I have developed the process of creating these artworks over a period of time and trial, having landed on this particular technique after much experimentation. What I have now is a process of my own from start to finish.

 

The work takes time — I cut each piece of glass by hand and apply it with tweezers, while other aspects of the process require patience as I wait weeks for materials to properly cure. It is my hope and intention that these works bring as much joy to the viewer as they brought to me in the creation.

 

My studio is located in the large sun-filled parlor downstairs in our 300-year-old farmhouse where I live with my husband and dogs. The fields, water, and woods around us provide constant inspiration that I tap into on long daily walks. I find the sacred in the creation that surrounds me there and the work that I do is how I celebrate and give thanks for that venerated gift."

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Artistic Process

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“I find creating a complete artwork from raw materials extremely satisfying. In a sort of alchemy, a pile of clay, glass, paint, and gold flakes is transformed into a one-of-a-kind object that can last for generations. 

 

Each piece begins as a sculpture made out of clay. I make a mold of that sculpture, which will then become the frame. Into these molds —which are cast once a year — I pour hydrocal gypsum with reinforcement, incorporating the hanging mechanism. 

 

After the frame has cured for about a month, I do the patina on the frame and add any additional elements, such as stones or jewels. Once I see the completed frame, I decide what image to put inside it. I will then do the painting, assemble the mosaic, and layer on 24k gold. 

 

Although the process may seem long and laborious, time passes unnoticed by me when I work. My ideas are a compilation of images from my life, inspired by nature, cathedrals and carousels, and the elusive treasures found in my dreams.”