I work with a wide variety of materials but my preferred medium is wool. I am drawn to its metamorphic nature, the way an arrangement of fine wool fibers will shift from a delicate and unpredictable state to one that is firm and solid through the application of warm water, soap and pressure. This process is called wet felting and it is the oldest known form of textile making. Other natural fibers – paper, cotton, raw, unspun silk or flax – are integrated into the process to give each piece a unique and richly textured surface. Once a piece has been shaped and dried, I apply pigments, dyes, stains or prints that produce a range of complex yet nuanced hues as the final step in my surface design. On occasion found objects of wood, iron and copper and other fiber art techniques, such as coiling and weaving, are incorporated into my work.
My art is a personal dialogue with the natural world – intentionally quiet, subtle and abstract.
At present, vessels are my chosen form of expression for their practical function and symbolic significance – they hold things precious to us.