Artist Statement

I developed my passion for pressing plant material after several years of making the Heirloom Flower Press.  Nature has always inspired my designs, but pressing the plants made me look closer at patterns, the structural similarity to other living things, and the beauty that is found in even the smallest parts of a plant.  I only needed to look more closely, and a whole new world opened up as I began composing with these elements.  In doing so, I learned that the beauty in plants can be so simple and stand completely on their own, even with the absence of vibrant colors normally associated with plants and flowers.

Most of my material comes from what grows around my home and the surrounding woods.  From lichens to fungus, seed pods to overwintered asters, I find something to press 12 months out of the year.  But it isn’t only the material that inspires my collages.  It is also the quiet moments of living close to Nature with the changing seasons, migratory birds, and this magnificent Maine coast.  I am grateful that I can pause long enough to see the beauty that surrounds me.

For over thirty-five years, I have also been designing and making furniture on a commission basis.  Some of the elements that have influenced my designs come from Japanese culture, the sculptural furniture of Wharton Esherick, and indigenous folk art, mostly from the Pacific Northwest.  All of these influences contain a spiritual thread between the artisan, the natural world, and its intended use.  When designing custom work, I am mindful of this connection.  From the organic shapes inspired by Nature, the custom pulls that adorn a piece, or how a specific wood is selected, I strive to create lasting, handcrafted pieces that fit the specific needs of individuals looking for something that only custom work can provide.  It is in the smallest details where beauty can live and help us to connect with our environment.