 Growing up in central California, in a family that encouraged creativity, I found that it took only a few semesters at Sacramento State for me to adopt an art major, leaving an interest in other subjects behind forever.
Enamels have been my passion since the mid 1960s when--while earning a teaching license--I was assigned to an enameling class with Jo Ann Tanzer at San Diego State. This exploration continued with several enameling instructors in the Milwaukee area including Sr. Lucinda Hubing, Ingrid Regula, and Sr. Rosemarita Huebner.
In 1980 I began working with a strip-piecing method developed by the Seminole Indians. In my work patched strips were used as the colorful tops of fabric boxes with matching cloisonné enamel latches. In more recent years inspiration for the box tops has come from interesting fabrics, traditional patchwork designs, hand dying and other surface design techniques.
The use of enameling and patchwork together is an extremely unusual combination. The time spent painting the enamels, seeking out interesting fabrics while traveling, manipulating colors, as well as designing and sewing fabric are an enjoyable and satisfying part of my work.
Memberships include Wisconsin Designer Crafts Council where I served for many years on the board, the Wisconsin Alliance of Artists and Craftspeople, the Enamelist Society, the American Craft Council and the Great Lakes Enamel Guild.
You may find me at about 12-15 art fairs each year, mainly in Wisconsin or nearby states. Click here to see an ART FAIR SCHEDULE.
|
