PROFILE

History

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, the artist has had an interest in rocks, minerals, fossils, Indian artifacts, and a love for the outdoors since he was a child. Moving to West Texas in 1979 he found employement in the oil industry as a draftsman. Many of the skills acquired as a draftsman, such as layout and design, balance and proportion, and the use of geometry along with taking classes in Lapidary, Silversmithing, and Faceting through the Midland Gem and Mineral Society has provided him with a good foundation in jewelry design.

Process/Technique

All of my pieces are "One-of-a-Kind Works of Art". The majority of my work features hand fabricated settings built around stones that I have cut. Many of the settings include double and triple overlay, with mixed metals (sterling, 14kt & 18kt gold) in which I employ a variety of texturing methods. On rare occasions, I will design a piece in wax and have it cast. I am currently exploring sand, cuttlebone, and tufa casting.

The intarsia and inlay work are constructed entirely by me along with most of the cabochons and large faceted stones. I will sometimes use designer stones if I really like them or if the rough material is unavailable.

Philosophy

I do not feel as if I create anything, but rather, I am privileged to work with materials that God has created. As an artist, it is my job to use the abilities and talents given to me to unlock the stones natural beauty. Once the stone has been unveiled, the stone dictates how it is to be set. I then decide which metals, texture, and accent stones should be used until perfect balance and harmony are reached. The final results of this process produces true "One-of-a-Kind Works of Art" designed to bring many years of enjoyment to indivduals with even the most discerning taste.