How I Got Started

Trained as a Metallurgist and Materials scientist, I carried out research and development on high performance metals and ceramics for 43 years. During that time, I occasionally created art and jewelry from these materials.

It wasn't until the mid 1990's that I began to seriously consider taking formal Jewelry-making courses. At the time, the demands of running my high tech materials research and development company prevented me from taking the time to enroll. Then, two years before selling my business in 2002, I finally made the leap and started taking Jewelry-making classes at the Maine College of Art as well as jewelry and pottery making classes at Portland Pottery.

While taking these courses, I liked the feelings of peace and satisfaction that came when I completed a piece of jewelry. After 9 months of studying jewelry and pottery making, I made a decision to focus all of my energy and creativity on becoming a Goldsmith.

Upon selling my business, I embarked on a new career...

Artist Statement

I am intrigued by the history and beauty of Mokume Gane and Damascus Stainless Steel. Each of these materials has beauty in their patterns, colors and the play of shadow and light that speaks to me and motivates me each day No two pieces of jewelry are ever exactly the same.

For me, the joining of different alloys to create Mokume Gane or Damascus Stainless Steel is a metaphor for the joining of two people in marriage, friendship or a relationship.

Reflections on Working With Mokume Gane

My first attempt to make Mokume Gane ended in failure which created a desire to learn the art of making Mokume Gane. I am intrigued by the process of patterning Mokume Gane. And I am passionate about using Mokume Gane as my canvas, metal working tools as my brushes, and different color alloys as my paints in order to create miniature paintings. There is a personal satisfaction in making a billet of Mokume Gane by selecting alloy sheet thicknesses, stacking arrangements and colors, and, then, individually patterning each Mokume Gane ring. For me, learning to pattern Mokume Gane was a process of thinking in three dimensions and then countless hours of hands-on experimentation.

Reflections on Working With Damascus Stainless Steel

The natural beauty of etched Damascus patterns, their corrosion resistance, the fact that they are made from powders, and their similarity to Mokume patterns are the attributes that attracted me to Damascus Stainless Steel. The modern day Damascus Stainless Steel used in my rings is made in Sweden by hot isostatically pressing alternating layers of two different kinds of stainless steel powders. In my contract R&D business, I was involved in hot isostatically pressing metal powders so it was only natural for me to gravitate to Damascus.

Continuous Learning

Besides the courses at Maine College of Art and Portland Pottery, I immersed myself in carefully selected intensive jewelry workshops dealing with design and technique, as well as hundreds of hours of private lessons - all with master goldsmiths/teachers including Tim McCreight, Pauline Warg, Jean Paterak, Ann Hollerbach, Paulette Werger, Blaine Lewis, Kate Wolf, Phil Piorier, Steve Midgett and James Binnion.

In my first year of studying jewelry making, I embarked on the first of several collaborative research projects designed to advance the state of the art of jewelry making for practicing jewelers and provide me with a knowledge and experience that make me a better Goldsmith. Along with my co-authors, I was presented with two collaborative research awards from the Santa Fe Symposium on jewelry manufacturing technology; one in 2005 and one in 2007.

I am a member of the Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America association.

Engineering and Science Education and Experience

• Over 45 years in metallurgy and materials engineering
  
• Five US and Foreign patents
  
• Designed commercial scientific equipment
  
• Published over 200 reports and articles
  
• Owned an advanced materials R&D company
  
• Co-founder of a scientific equipment company
  
• Co-founder of WebMagnetics, an Internet company
  
• BS, MS and PhD degrees in Metallurgy
  
• Visiting assistant professor - University of Maryland
  
• Amos Tuck executive training program - Dartmouth College
  
• Centennial fellow of Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences