For 24 years, I have been an innovative, versatile artist blacksmith / toolmaker / bladesmith / teacher. 

I see my art as a spiritual process for me, and I keep coming back to the theme of sowing seeds or the tree of life. I am given the gift to create and there are living beings amongst us who were created perfectly. The plants I incorporate into my art are nature’s perfection. My techniques involve forging and shaping iron and other materials, incorporating woodworking, carving and shaping. 

Art saved me, and now I use it to help others as well. Asperger’s actually empowers my award-winning work and inclusive teaching. I dive deep into the work, able to see with a unique perspective, freed from the pressure to be “normal,” connecting with others in the creative space.  When I am creating my art, I forget about my disability. I am able to create without judgment from others of me. I lose that sense of otherness I feel. I am at my happiest when I am creating my artwork. I can be myself, and I decide what direction my artwork will go, and  I am not constrained by any rules.

Asperger’s has given me a superpower. I don’t see the world as a neurotypical, and it gives me the ability to see things in not so ordinary ways. I’m very hyper-focused on my interests, and I have very specific interests, which include blacksmithing, bladesmithing, history as it relates to my areas of interest, kite flying, fishing, boating, electric trains, reptiles, and theology.

I’m inclined to say that having Asperger’s has made me sensitive to other people’s differences and their different learning styles. It’s important for me as a teacher to know my students feel successful in what they’re learning and for them to feel inspired to continue metalsmithing or any other art form they choose. I believe people with learning differences and abilities are able to forge different kinds of metals, creating an outlet for their creative expression and to add to their palette of skills.

I have enjoyed teaching hundreds of students of all ages and conducting thousands of demonstrations. It is a priority for me to be inclusive of diverse gender identities, races, cultures, learning styles, and emotional differences, and to make skills accessible so students can bring traditional skills to their communities.I have also developed methods for teaching students metalsmithing. 

I work closely with clients to fulfill their unique visions - from ancient to modern, while my personal aesthetic tends towards Gothic in style. I am always striving for museum quality results. I work from specifications, historical sources, and my own creativity. To create accurate historical reproductions, I enjoy finding and using museum pieces for reference.