Where do you live?
I live on the beautiful island of Jamestown. I found my way to Jamestown in 1977 and I’m never leaving. I grew up in Westerly and went to RISD. There I studied ceramics with Norm Schulman and Robert Archambeau. Dale Chihuly was there as well getting a Master’s Degree in teaching. He started the glass studio at RISD and I was in his first class. Working with clay, I found hand building was more exciting than throwing on the wheel. For my senior degree project, I began a series of large animal heads including lion, bear, and wolf. I continue to create creatures part animal/part man today. Years later I began to make masks of the human face, some free hand and then from direct castings with plaster of Paris molds. I have made many portrait castings of people. One day I will make a pressing of each face and see who I have immortalized over the years. I still do portrait casting by commission.
How long have you been a member of WAA?
I joined in the early 80″s when Irene was President. This year was my 28th year showing at the Wickford Art Festival.
How long have I been a JAM?
A very long time—probably the early 80’s.
Tell us about your art work.
When making a portrait mask, I find the face itself will inspire images. I often surround a face with leaves, flowers, birds, sometimes dragons. I have collected beautiful, vintage lace over the years which makes wonderful texture and patterns to glaze, some with cupids, butterflies, or figures. For the large Grande masks, I work inside of a huge face mold. A lot of thought goes in to the exact placement of form and image and I cannot see the result until carefully tipping the leather hard piece out. Then I can continue working on it. Grande heads start with an idea—like a face all of dragons, or all of birds, or all of faces.
Where do you find your inspiration?
My ideas spring from nature, myths, dreams, and archetypes. I have loved fairy tales since childhood. My English aunts sent wonderful books to me which I still have. Fairies, mermaids, Kings and Queens, pageantry. I read every horse and animal book in the Westerly Library as a kid and drew all the time. Imagination is a wonderful thing!
What is the most important thing you want your viewers to take away?
My work is fanciful and mystical. It all comes from my imagination and spirit. When people look at it, I would like them to be intrigued, surprised, delighted, maybe a feeling of wonder. I hope they see beauty and magic and fun!
Best piece of advice ever received.
Once walking my dog along the Beavertail cliffs, I bumped into a fellow who asked how my work was coming along. I said I was feeling a bit artistically blocked. He said “just go into the studio and let your hands do the work. Your hands know what to do.” But really the best advice ever was “Where do you want to live? Buy the Jamestown house.” Also, I often advise upcoming artists to “JOIN THE WICKFORD ART ASSOCIATION!
My favorite thing about the WAA.
We popped into an opening the other night. Always a pleasure and a breath of fresh air. I have always felt comfortable and welcome, acknowledged and respected. I enjoy the interactions with both artists and directors. It’s great!
What do I enjoy most about being an artist?
Good question. I just am one!
Do you have any upcoming shows?
- Design Week RI, Open Studios in Southern RI, Sunday, September 15th, from 10 to 6, my studio
- Exhibit on the wall of RI Realty for October, 34 Narragansett Ave, Jamestown, RI, 401SOLD.com
- HopArts Studio Trail, October 19 and 20, Crandall House, Rte.3, Ashaway, RI—10 to 4
- Christmas Market, December 13th, 5:30-7:30, and Dec. 14th, 10-4, Jamestown Art Center, Jamestown, RI