Artist Bio · Timeline · Mission Statement
After several years as a corporate product designer, I decided to combine my academic background in jewelry and ceramics with my professional expertise in product design. My goal was to create a product line that could creatively mesh these aesthetic and technical interests. After researching for two years, and to address an area I found lacking in the marketplace, I decided upon fine lighting. In 1989 I introduced my first lamp to the New York market.
From narrative painting and sculptural hardware to engineering and quality control, this line still provides a wonderful arena for my attention to detail. Beginning with a lighting line only, I expanded into other products for the home and now offer a diverse line of mirrors, clocks, and switchplates.
My line is represented and distributed by approximately 250 galleries, designers and lighting studios. Many of the same galleries that bought my lamps at that first New York show still represent my work. I have also pursued my corporate design interests by creating exclusive work for reputable companies such as the Sundance Catalogue (since 1991), and Garnet Hill mail order catalogues. My studio also regularly produces custom lighting and related products for the designer, hospitality and corporate gift markets.
Artist Timeline
- 5 yrs
Declared myself an artist. Worked for hours at this old mission desk in our basement while my mother hung the clothes to dry. Discovered making art brought me a sense of focus and a genuine thrill as a young child.- 16 yrs
- Focused on jewelry at a high school specializing in the decorative arts. Received some awards and scholarships, and inspiration for my work.
- 17 yrs
- Entered Massachusetts College of Art. Started out as a jeweler, later focused on the handpainted ceramic surface. Fell in love with mixed media.
- 21 yrs
- So how do we make a living?
- 22-27
- I became a corporate product developer for a national company.
Found a new love for blending art and business into the design process. Fascinated with bringing to the old boy’s network a new perspective on product design – the freedom of an artist’s point of view; embracing all the technical capabilities and the blank canvas with fulfilling a new market need. Stored this exciting formula for my next creative phase. - 27 yrs
- Left the big corporation. Raced back to my roots, hoping to cleverly weave my mixed media talents back into my working life.
Made the connection. Used the magic formula: “Artist’s point of view – technical capabilities – blank canvas – market need” and dug in to find my niche.
Started a marketing consulting firm to support myself and wore a suit and an apron through the launch phase.
Hit the design beat and researched. While in a successful home store in the city, looked up and saw a run-of-the-mill sconce and it clicked: Lighting. Beautiful lighting. Creative, livable lighting that performs its function, but offers up all parts as an opportunity for beauty. Detailed or simple. Uniquely narrative or historically classic. Painterly and sculptural. Finally, a home for jewelry-like metalwork and handpainted composition. It was one of those moments in life where everything and everywhere I’d been made sense. - 29-today
In the evolution of my work, blending historic references with a fresh, contemporary approach is forever inspiring. I hope to always bring forth a mix of elements that keeps the viewer curious, focused, and pleased with our efforts.
My line is now represented by over 250 galleries, designers, and lighting studios. Many of the same galleries that bought my work at my first New York show in 1987 still represent my work. Since 1991, I have and continue to design and produce exclusive work for wonderful companies such as the Sundance catalog. Producing custom lighting and related products for the designer and architect markets has been integral to our studio and always offers the opportunity to keep our work fresh.- Tomorrow
- Life is so quick. But just wait until you see what’s in the sketchbook…
Mission Statement
In 2007, we will have been in business for 20 years. After all of this time, our concept of quality has grown beyond the scope of our lighting. High standards become important not just for the product but in all the relationships we enjoy. This is true of our colleagues within the company, as well as our family of customers and community. In our sunny studio, located in a historic New England mill building, our small group of highly-trained artisans collectively hand-make each piece individually with lots of discussion and a good, old-fashioned work ethic.
As we and the company evolve, even in the face of the growing number of import products, the idea of providing among the best United States of America product still comprises the backbone of our studio. Our goal is a consistency of handmade quality and distinctiveness virtually lost in today’s manufacturing.