Artist Statement
As a second generation artist I joke that I never had a choice in becoming an artist. I carry on the mantle of design and creation. I make use of skills that were imparted to me, while working hard to continually explore, innovate, and tell my own stories. I call my technique Wood Cloisonné. I start by collecting wood off my Appalachian homeplace and completing a wood turning. I then inlay metal-wrapped woods into that form in order to create a cohesive composition. By this process I am able to tell a story that features elements of both nature and myself. The stories I tell are shown in the materials I use. However, you may also seen handcut figures, animals, and objects I have made to be set pieces in my work.
