Inspiration
Functional Art
I love making functional art, especially with found materials such as sea glass, driftwood, fallen tree limbs, rocks, etc. Imagining the piece - finding the medium - drilling - cutting - painting - gluing - sanding - whatever it takes to "make it". Finishing a project gives me a great sense of satisfaction, both physically and emotionally. Selling a piece of art, essentially a piece of myself, and feeling the joy it brings to the one who came into possession of it, is so validating. |
Facets of Joy
The paths I've taken, with all its twists and turns, brought me here to this moment in time...a hillside orchard in Southern California, surrounded by citrus and avocado trees. It is Spring, and the scent of the orange blossoms invigorates my creative spirit and evokes fond memories of other paths, other moments like this one, where I am filled with joy and grateful for my place in the universe. Years ago, it was the scent of fresh cut grass early in the morning - zen and the art of golf course maintenance - that brought me so much joy, and fed my passion for nature. Working outdoors, with its inescapable soundtrack of birds and wind, allowed me to listen to my own thoughts and hone my intuition. I take a moment to reflect upon these many paths, and acknowledge how every big moment in my life happened in an instant, because I was open to it. Those paths lead here - thousands of miles away from the community I loved, replaced with a new community full of love, life, dogs, and fruit...so much fruit! As I stand on the hillside overlooking acres of avocado groves, I have another lightbulb moment. I take that vision to my workshop to transform it into something tangible, something meaningful, my facets of joy. One of Kim's
One of Kim's evolved from making smaller functional art pieces as gifts by request from family and friends - a keepsake, a one-of-a-kind gift, a soon-to-be family heirloom, a bridal memento, etc. - and learning that my family and friends often described these special gifts as "one of Kim's". It was another lightbulb moment. What an incredible opportunity to create a small piece of art for someone special, to preserve a memory, commemorate an event, remember a loved one. I can be a part of celebrating a significant moment in someone's life by creating a meaningful, personal token of love. A piece of me, a piece of you, for someone special. I'm joyous - all over again! |