Everyone can appreciate and even admire the flora and fauna that surrounds us in our daily lives. However, I think that my upbringing in Vermont has inspired me a bit more than the average person.
Although the influences on my work have always been varied, from Art Deco to African Tribal jewelry, my work right now attempts to take a snap shot of the flowers and leaves outside my door. I try to replicate the strong yet ethereal nature of the flowers and trees growing in my yard. It is nature’s perfection found in its imperfection that I strive to achieve.
My pieces start out as sheet metal, wire, and tubing. I transform the materials using processes such as chasing, repousse¬, texturing, piercing, and hand-forming depending on the look that I am attempting to achieve. For me, there is a necessity to feel an immediate connection with the materials with which I work. Therefore, processes such as casting have never been as appealing as the gratification I get from starting out with simple metal and transforming it into a piece of jewelry.
Clean lines, negative space, and the use of textures with accents of color are the fundamental aesthetic principles at the root of all of my jewelry designs.
Whether it is a relatively simple cuff or a cacophony of flowers at the neck, it is very important that the jewelry become an extension of the wearer rather than an accessory that looks out of place. I try to complement rather than overwhelm the wearer.
Ultimately, I strive to craft striking jewelry that is a pleasure to have on and that makes the person wearing it feel great about themselves.