I am both a metalsmith and a mural painter. The two could not be more different, but I’m making it work by dividing my year into outdoor painting season and indoor metalsmithing season. It’s as simple as a cup of iced tea or a cup of hot tea. When it’s time to hunker down and everyone gets the urge to bake… I hope some will come to my shop and make jewelry instead. I love to teach, but more than that, I love watching others embrace possibility.

I have been outfitting my shop with tools, lighting, heating, and everything I can think of to make it an inviting and productive space. I have had nine students who have been kind enough to share what’s working for them and what upgrades I need to make. Last Spring my workshops were going great and then suddenly the weather changed. I was invited to paint seventeen murals for the University of Colorado Denver Campus. Suddenly I was hiring sub-contractors and planning schedules, and driving to Denver to paint! I love my life and my jobs. As an artist, it’s common to pivot to accommodate all the possibilities, so that’s what I do every day.

I’ve been tinkering around to find the best metalsmithing class for beginners and I think I’ve found the one! I’ve always thought that silversmithing should begin with melting metal because when I was in school we spent three years trying NOT to melt the metal. Not melting the metal is hard to do when you don’t know the signs and the only way to know when the metal is going to melt, is to just DO IT! So, this fall I’m offering a Fused Flower Pendant workshop for beginners. We’re diving right into torch skills and melting heaps of scrap metal.

Please visit my website to sign up for one of two spots in each class! If you don’t see what you need, please contact me and I will try to accommodate all requests.