About the Artist
My Background
I grew up in Alaska and currently live with my husband and our 3 dogs on beautiful Camano Island in Washington State. My day job/career was in nursing. In my off-time I always had a project in the works. Recently retired, I now have time to immerse myself in my artistic creations. Stone carving, with all the dust and mess generated, is mainly an outside activity. So when the weather is windy and rainy (as it often is in the Pacific Northwest), I switch over to more indoor type projects: sculpting with wool/felt, plaster, plant materials and any other medium I can get my hands on.
"Artists are the people among us who realize
creation didn't stop on the sixth day"
- Joel Peter Witkin
My Experience
I have always created within the fiber arts arena but did not start working with stone until I moved to Camano Island. That's when I had the good fortune to participate in a stone sculpture workshop taught by master stone carver, Kentaro Kojima. I was instantly hooked and began carving stone in our garage. And I made a BIG mess. One thing led to another and we built a small studio on our property. I then joined the NorthWest Stone Sculptors Association (NWSSA) who sponsors different events including 2 annual 8-day stone symposiums, aka "Stone Camp". I have attended many of these symposiums and time spent with the talented and enthusiastic sculptors within NWSSA has taught me just about everything I know about stone carving.
In the Gallery
The majority of my artwork is represented by Karla Matzke, owner of Matzke Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Park.
The gallery is located on Camano Island and hosts stone carving workshops, rotating shows consisting of glass, paintings, sculptures, mixed media collage and assemblages. Karla also maintains a beautiful 10-acre sculpture park.