• Studied Fine Arts at the Silvermine College of Art, New Canaan, CT; and Metalsmithing at Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA
   
• Developed current specialization in glass fusing, slumping, and lampworking of beads at Arrow Springs Glass; Santa Cruz Art Glass; Silverado Glass; Pacific Art Glass; Flame & Fusion Studio (all in CA)
   
• Additional training in classical Venetian/Murano lampworking (beadmaking) techniques in Murano, Italy
   
• Studied glassblowing at Steninge Slott, Sweden
   
• 2003 Scholarship recipient at Warm Glass Weekend, Arlington, VA
   
• Recent exhibiting art shows include Sawdust Art Festival, Laguna Beach, (CA) -- June-September, 2007 and November/December, 2007; La Jolla Art Festival (CA) -- June, 2007; Contemporary Crafts Market, Santa Monica (CA) -- June & November, 2007
   
• October 2006:  Appeared in two segments for the HGTV cable TV network show, "That's Clever"... set to air in September, 2008!  Demonstrated two projects:  a fused and slumped glass platter, and a pair of sparkling dichroic drawer pulls!

I specialize in kiln-fired fused glass and lampworked glass beads, which I personally handcraft in my Laguna Canyon studio.

After determining the shape and mechanics of a fused glass piece, I decide upon a color scheme. I cut, shape, and fit pieces of art glass together, layer upon layer. I use varying combinations of dichroic, iridescent, transparent, and opaque art glass, as well as 24K gold leaf and foil. Most of my glass set-ups are comprised of 2-5 layers of glass, fired to ~1400-1500ºF over a period of approximately 4 hours. After the initial firing, many pieces are re-shaped and then "fire-polished" by firing a second time, to remove any grinding performed (done to true-up a specific shape, cut-in a design, or remove any rough edges).

The lampworked beads are made one at a time at the torch, applying rods of molten glass to a bead mandrel. Patterns are built up with layers and dots of glass followed by surface manipulation (raking, gravity swirling, etc.) to achieve a variety of effects.