ART MEDIUMS: Glass, Silver Wire, Beads, Fabric, Paint, Mixed and Recycled Materials
I love to upcycle—much like turning flotsam and jetsam into gorgeous trinkets and baubles! I see so much usefulness and beauty in many overlooked, everyday objects. Resourcefulness is a big part of my life and I often challenge myself to find a way to reuse rather than buy new.
I also love, love, love to freeform with molten glass and allow the glass to take the path of least resistance. I find the translucent light that glows through my finished pieces beautiful and mesmerizing. I enjoy all the bright colors of glass available for me to create with and liken them to the brilliant variety of colors in an undersea ecosystem.
My creative process is to draw upon what I love and enjoy, then create fun, whimsical pieces from there. To me, it is always important to remember we are truly here for a short time and life moves so quickly, that we need to be doing what we love for that is why we are here—to share of ourselves with others and bring them joy!
Inspiration
Like a mermaid (or crow), I collect what sparkles and inspires me, such as photos, pictures, artwork, typography, trinkets, colors and color schemes, beach glass, shells, stones—to remind me of my personal passions and my joy for being outdoors. Small tokens to remind me how precious life is and to always be focused on being present in the moment. Sometimes the tiniest bit of wave-worn colored plastic I find on the beach is the most inspiring color! (And I feel good that I’m removing it from the sand so it’s no longer polluting the environment, getting eaten by a living creature, or ends up injuring someone’s foot!) I collect and surround myself with what I love!
Reflection
I reflect with these collected items and gather my memories of my toes wriggling in the warm sand, catching a split-second glimpse of a humpback whale breaching, the smoothness of an ocean-tumbled skipping rock, the soft dampness of dew-covered moss in a Douglas Fir forest, the cool mist at the beginning of a morning hike that both takes my breath away and gives me excitement at the peacefulness ahead as I delve deeper into the terrain, the complete body shock and then numbness while swimming for about 90 seconds in a glacier-fed mountain lake—all these memories are felt with the senses and bring feeling to my artwork.
Vision
Every so often, I create a vision board. This is a simple poster board that I divide into categories for what I want and hope for in my life. It is a highly rewarding experience and helps to organize your needs, wants, hopes and desires for your life into motivational chunks. Try creating a vision board for yourself and see where it leads you. I’d love to hear how your life grew as you focused on your vision of who you are and why you are truly here!
Doodling
Whenever inspiration strikes, it is important to record it before the fleeting epiphany vanishes! I try to write down sayings that pop into my head, or draw or color, or record something. Doodling helps me with jewelry and logo designs, tags, gifts, and just clearing my head! Record those great ideas so when you have time, you can act on them!