I have been a landscape painter for many years, although I studied life and portrait painting at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, DC. About 15 years ago I started making collaged jewelry using mineral specimens and antique buttons. When our new art center in Frederick, Maryland offered jewelry classes, I signed up and have been working with silver and semi-precious stones ever since. I am fascinated by the patterns and colors in the stones and with creating 3-D work in silver, such as reticulation, repousse` and engraving.; -