My heritage is a long line of artists, craftspeople, artisans and designers; it's in my DNA. Some of my earliest memories recall sitting on my father’s workbench watching him restore antique furniture and doing intricate gunsmith work, or time passed with my older sister making dioramas or sketching and painting, often following forays into the wild. My mother fostered an appreciation of classical works from across the creative disciplines that has served as inspiration throughout my life.


But it is the juxtaposition of man and nature that continues to intrigue me and this has been the foundation of much of my work throughout my career. I am awed by the majestic wildness of creation – God’s art, if you will – even as it is tempered by the human touch. Perhaps it's where the divine and the temporal reside in harmony. The quest to capture this, to draw upon it at times when life seems uncertain or overwhelming in its grandeur, is a continual challenge: to impose my emotional response on a surface, to hold that moment when, for instance, everything around radiates as though dipped in gold.


Looking back it seems to me that in my youth and studies I was somewhat less sensitive to these phenomena, but I had the privilege and benefit of seeing many wonderful exhibitions, visiting numerous museums and galleries, and gaining a certain depth of experience from my family's extensive travels that I could draw upon later. In fact, my life took a pragmatic turn as I pursued careers in graphic design, construction, interior design, and furniture design. But that persistent, quiet sense of interconnection stirred me. Now, as I view the life that lies ahead, I have a growing sense of appreciation and gratitude for the complex tapestry woven from experience. And as the design continues to unfold, I hope to share with others the vision of God’s glory I feel so blessed to see.

Education & Awards

  • Numerous scholastic awards including an Ohio High School Summer Art Camp at Ohio University
  • Studied under Vivian Cayton at Marietta High School
  • BA degree in Fine Art (emphasis on sculpture), 1971. Studied under Charles L. Peterson, William Gerhold, Arthur Winer, J. Thomas R. Higgins and Tina Gianfagna at Marietta College
  • Professional awards: Parkersburg Art Center Regional Show, Peoples Bank purchase awards, The French Art Colony purchase awards, private collections

Career

  • Graphic designer and production artist: Richardson Printing, Russell Graphics and freelance
  • Carpenter and finish specialist: Frontier Construction Co.
  • Construction contractor: Jon F. Eells Interiors, Innerspace Interiors Inc.
  • Sales representative and furniture designer: Sauder Manufacturing, Wieland Furniture, Herman Miller/Nemschoff; past professional member Industrial Designers Society of America
  • Kitchen designer: Huck’s Cabinets and freelance
  • General Manager and construction designer: Malone Renovations, Inc. and freelance