Creativity is just part of who I am.

 

Growing up I was involved in the performing arts, and as time went by I discovered visual art and fine craft. As a young teenager I found an adult education photography class in Boston, where I learned to use the darkroom as well as my first SLR camera. I have had a camera with me ever since! I went on to study film and television at Emerson College.

 

In college, I started making jewelry - beadwork back then, and mostly for myself and for friends as gifts. Along the way I took some ceramic classes, my favorite being the raku workshops I took on Thursday evenings in a tiny studio in Denver with a friend from my day job. Eventually I learned some silversmithing, took Gemology classes at GIA (Gemological Institute of America)  and then I discovered Precious Metal Clay, the medium I love most. The idea that I can work with clay to create actual fine metal jewelry and incorporate beautiful stones still brings me such joy! 

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As I worked "day jobs" in marketing and promotions, I started to put a lot more time and energy into these creative pursuits, officially founding Dream Big Arts in 2001. My day job became part time, and eventually I moved on to co-found two artists galleries, design and teach both photography and jewelry workshops for kids and adults, and ultimately grow my portrait photography business into my "main gig", while continuing to pursue fine art photography and jewelry design "on the side". My working life is incredibly fulfilling!!

The greatest gift is that all of this allowed me to put raising my daughter before anything else, as I could be a stay at home mom and still work on my own schedule. I am still enjoying that benefit, at least for a couple of years before she is off to college and creating life on her own terms, too. My husband has always been supportive of everything I do, which is truly phenomenal and the main reason I have been able to make this work. As a family we love to travel, explore the big outside, see live music and spend lots of time with friends and family.