Looking over the various explorations within my art over the past decades, there are two main constants -narrative and assemblage designs.

Narrative Work:

With my narrative work, often the first thing that I conceive of is the title. The title becomes like a beacon that guides me to the destination of the finished piece. Before doing any sketching or thinking visually at all, often I’ll write an outline of ideas that I want to incorporate into the piece. Writing is extremely important for me in narrative work. Hidden within those pieces are short stories that have a beginning and a conclusion. After that comes sketches and often models made with foam core, paper cut-outs and whatever else that works. One of the curses of working with metal is that many times there isn’t much room for corrections without starting all over again. That said, the pieces rarely look exactly like the model. Interpreting a concept with a new material usually changes the piece somewhat.

Assemblage Designs:

Every day that I can, I go for a walk or a run. Whether it’s in the forest, the beach or a city street, I am constantly on the lookout for objects that catch my interest. Sometimes my running short’s tiny pockets get so filled that I have to carry things as well. Not a very practical idea when running, but it’s an obsession.

I spent many years working in jewelry stores as a custom goldsmith and stonesetter. I learned that almost all forms of stonesetting mechanically entrap the gem. At some point, I realized that I could utilize many of those traditional techniques to hold other types and shapes of objects. I am endlessly intriqued with coming up with imaginative ways to entrap found objects. Besides traditional stonesetting techniques, I love using miniature nuts & bolts, taps & dies and whatever else I can figure out.

Much of my assemblage work is rooted somehow in my environment, whether that's urban, forest or beach. I like to juxtapose found objects that have inherent, yet overlooked beauty and contrast them with conventionally thought of precious materials such as calibrated gemstones, gold and silver.