Artist Statement
As a fifth generation Arizonan, I was drawn to Southwestern influences in art and architecture. I was one of the original DeGrazia Guild members in the 70's. I created the DeGrazia dolls.
I studied art and sculpture at universities and colleges in Kansas, Illinois, Utah and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Fine Art at the University of Arizona, with a special interest in sculpture.
Later, I lived in and traveled to many exotic places such as India, Nepal, Indonesia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan, where ceramic art has flourished for centuries. I was inspired by the colorful carpet and tile designs I saw in those countries, especially Samarkand in Central Asia.
I enjoy discovering the infinite possibilities of design by combining multiple patterns, textures and rich colors.
One of the most asked questions about my work is how long it takes to create one of my mosaics. To be honest, I have no idea. There are so many steps involved from creating the design to making the tiles and putting it all together, it would be impossible to keep track of the hours.
The comment I enjoy most from people who see my work is that it is like nothing they have seen before.