jewelrySilver and Enamel
[ Things that influenced me ]
I was always close to my Aunt Ann, and my cousin Debby. My aunt had an extensive jewelry collection. She enjoyed showing me her beautiful rings. Some of the pieces were expensive, traditional jewelry, but others were interesting pieces she found on her travels around the world. I would think about her jewelry, not realizing at the time, that it would influence me.
Silver and Stones
When I was in elementary school my friend RuthEllen and I would walk to Cobbs Hill Park and climb the hiking trails up the hill. We would collect rocks that glittered, which we thought were diamonds. We would take them home and wash them, and enjoy the beauty of each rock. This was one of my first recollection of loving stones.
Silver and Resin
On another note, dance in my childhood through adulthood, influenced me. I started taking dance lessons at about the age of 8, and continued until I was 40 at which time I injured my knee, and had to stop dancing. I love the long lines and angles that the body creates while moving or posing. I have always gone to the theatre to watch various ballet companies perform.
Architecture has also been influential. When visiting a home, building, or museum, I always look up at the angles forming the structure, and visually follow them throughout the building.
AND STERLING SILVER MESH
Artist Statement
I’m interested in form, texture, and surface design. Inspiration comes from nature {mountains, sky, ocean},architecture {lines, angles, structure}, and body movement {bodies dancing, moving in space}. Primarily, I work in silver, using stones, enamels, and pigment for accents of color. Each piece is hand fabricated. The process interests me more than the finished piece. What I start with is often not what I end up with. Something interesting might happen in the process that moves me in another direction. As the piece is evolving, instead of thinking about what more is needed for the piece to work, I think more about what isn’t needed in the piece... what can I take away. Less is best.
I’ve loved teaching my entire adult life. It could be teaching a child how to work with clay, or teaching an adult how to solder. I love it when a student gets so excited about learning something new, and I love watching what they do with that knowledge.
Perhaps because my degree is in counseling, I want students to feel good about themselves and what they’re doing, as they proceed in the process of learning and growing.
EDUCATION
1966
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin : BS Education
1971
Baylor University, Waco, Texas : MS Education
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
1966-68
Hayes Elem. School, Oklahoma City, Okla. : 2nd GradeTeacher
Oakwood Elem. School, Waco, Texas : 4-6th grade Remedial Reading Teacher
1970-71
Baylor University and Waco ISD, Waco, Texas : Preschool Deaf Art Teacher
1971-72
St. Michael and All Angels Day School, Dallas, Texas : 3rd grade Teacher
1975-77
Farmers Branch Recreation Center, Farmers Branch, Texas : Pre-School Art Teacher
1982-84
The Claymaker Gallery, Dallas, Texas : Sales – ceramics, jewelry, glass
1984-1996
Highland Park Presbyterian Day School, Dallas, Texas : Art Teacher, K-3rd grade
2000-2019
Brookhaven College, Continuing Education, Dallas, Texas : Jewelry Fabrication Teacher – Beginning and Intermediate Classes
2005
Craft Guild of Dallas, Dallas, Texas : Epoxy Inlay Workshop
2019-2021
Solder and Stone Studio, Carrollton, Texas : Teacher for Beginner and Intermediate Classes.
2021-present
Private Lessons in my home studio.
CERTIFICATIONS
Texas Teacher Certification- April, 1980- Kindergarten, Elementary, Counselor
INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES
Volunteer
Dallas Museum of Art – Go Van Gogh Program : 1996-2010
Tai Chi Classes 2014-present
WORKSHOPS
92nd Street Y
13895 Lexington Ave. New York, NY 10128
Southwest School of Art and Craft
300 Augusta
San Antonio, TX 78205
Craft Guild of Dallas
14325 Proton Rd,
Dallas, Texas 75244
Penland School of Crafts
P.O. Box 37
Penland, North Carolina 28765
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
P.O. Box 567
Gatlinburg, TN.37738
Pocasin Arts
202 Main St.
Columbia, NC 27925
Barbara Minor
Gold Foil on Enamel
2020
Pocasin Arts
Barbara Minor
Enamel: Texture & Surfaces
2020
Pocasin Arts
Raku Enamel-Jean Tudor
Fall 2022
Pocasin Arts
Mason Magic-Enamel
Anne Havel
2022
Pocasin Arts
Ricki Franks-Cloisonne Enamel
2022
Pocasin Arts
Enamel & Rust-Amanda Denison
June 2023
ART GALLERIES AND SHOWS
Carlyn Gallery | Dallas, TX _1996-97
The 1550 Gallery | Kerrville, TX _2006
Voices Invitational | Dallas, TX _1999-present
North Dallas Artist Studio Tour | _2005-2007
Judge, ArtFest | Dallas, Texas _May 2007-2010
Meadows Museum Gift Shop _2011
AWARDS
Brookhaven College Corporate and Continuing Education Instructor of the Year, 2005