"The beginning is always the best place to start. For me it all started on October 8, 1964 Green Bay Wisconsin. I am the youngest of 6 children. Mom and Dad (Be and Lloyd) had their hands full when it came to all of us. We are all very different and all strong willed like our parents. The common theme in the household was work hard, contribute to society in a nondestructive way and rely on no one but yourself to make things happen. Even though I've stuck my neck out to make things happen, it wasn't until I started my web site and my own business had I taken the risk that would tell me if I could stand on my own two feet.
All my life I heard I was artistically talented but I never knew what that meant for me. Yes, I could draw, paint and sculpt. However, in my mind, everyone else could too. There was nothing special about what I did. I remember being the little girl who leafed through the TV Guide after my mother did the crossword puzzle to find the page that said. "You too can be an artist.". If you draw the turtle or pirate you were an artist. I did that, but I didn't feel I was special because everyone drew that turtle or pirate, right? I had a Charlie Brown calendar that had all the Peanuts characters on it. I drew them all. However I was just copying Charles Schultz' world. It still wasn't mine. And wasn't everyone else doing that too? Of course, there was the Spira Graph. I loved that thing with all its different shapes and colors.
I always loved the art classes in school; I always did well. I always hated math; I always did poorly. I was always envious of anyone who excelled in math. My math abilities to this day are always a source of humor between me and my sister. I always liked history, but high school classes left the meaning of history flat and one sided. I wanted and needed more. What I realized later in life, is that I was looking for balance. Like Libra that holds the scales of balance, I seek harmony and a sense of balance between myself and the world around me.
When it came time for college, I was happy to find that my professors stimulated me to find myself in my art. I learned many things that I still use to this day. The issues I had with my education were the classroom structure and following the rules. I wanted my freedom to explore, which is exactly what I did with art. It is easy to guess I have my degree in the arts and art communication. I learned many life lessons as I threw pots on the wheel and learned the fine art of paper making. One thing I learned early on in the studios and critiques was how to deal with the criticism of your work. I learned to build up a tough skin. I learned to take my knocks and push forward.
I did my fair share of struggling developing my style. It wasn't until one professor noticed I struggled in 2 dimensions. Everything I touched I tried to manipulate to be 3 dimensional. My professors point blank told me to stop the 2 dimensional and focus on 3 dimensional. At that point I believe my quest to find my balance started to truly develop. It was at the same time I was in an engineering class. This class was all about brainstorming and keeping an open mind. Ideas were ideas, not bad or good. Whatever the idea, it's purpose was to get to the end result. If I want my work to evolve, I have to be open to all the possibilities.
As time moved along, and my work evolved, I began to develop a primitive style which had an ethnic quality to it. Whatever path I took in the art world it was going to be hands-on and dimensional. Then came the day I graduated and student loans had to be paid. I had to get a job. Starving artist was not going to pay the bills. So into Corporate America I walked. That world is dynamically different then anything I thought it would be. I was the proverbial square peg in a round hole. The company was small when I started, around 70 people. Now it is over 1,000. The days of knowing everyone are long gone. Structure and having to color inside the lines politically is the game. Not a game I ever consider wanting to play. Like college it was a learning environment not a career and learn I did. It took me a long time to learn that people will not change if they don't want to. Realizing people do not see things from my perspective nor I from theirs brought me to also understand that Corporate America is not for everyone. Some excel and enjoy that world. Some see the structure confining and unimaginative.
So, for several years I lived part of my life in the corporate world enjoying parts of it and another part of my life in the art world trying to find my balance. I have been dabbling in many mediums in the art world. Fiber and stain glass are just a few. I tried to manipulate both to be dimensional. Then one day I took a bead making class. I loved it but wasn't very good at it. Hot glass of any size takes a level of patience I don't have. Someone told me about a jewelry class. I decided to take it thinking it wouldn't take me anywhere but what the heck, I didn't have anything else to do. It was the fundamentals of wire wrapping and stringing beads. After 10 minutes of that I said… nope. Not for me. I put it down for a few years. Then someone asked me to make jewelry for a wedding party. Without thinking I said yes. I didn't know what I was doing, but she didn't need to know that. All the bride needed to do was like what I came up with. She did like it. Since that day I have found my balance.
As in a garden, my work grows. The balance that comes from an open mind, creativity, and remembering that all things need time to grow has proven to keep me in touch with my own evolution. The use of color and texture to bring a piece of jewelry to life is the definition of the balance I so enjoy. The weathering of time has given me a touch skin and the nurturing of those who support me gives me room to grow.
Welcome! I hope you enjoy my garden."
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