Artist Statement

I enjoy sharing the beauty of Louisiana through the use of its natural resources.  I am inspired by the hills of Rocky Mount, the community in Northwest Louisiana where I live and learn.  Weather it be long walks through the woods or by lakes and streams, there is always inspiration abounding.

My husband and I have a small gourd farm in Northwest Louisiana.  I collect and preserve all of the seed pods, Louisiana long leaf pine needles and use peacock feathers which are also from Louisiana.

Many of my gourds are created to illustrate the beauty of the fall season.  The leaves are pyroengraved into the surface of the gourd, paying particular attention to the veins.  Colors of the leaves are captured using a wet-on-wet method of staining.  Many of my creations are further carved leaving a silhouette of the leaves.

Through the combination of a gourd and a basket affect a “gourdsket” is created.  Louisiana long leaf pine limbs are collected and the needles are removed to dry.  Later the needles are steeped in boiling water to be woven in a sculpture affect around black walnut slices on gourds.  The black walnuts come from a tree that is over 100 years old on my property.

I am inspired by nature.  I often find myself examining the designs and colors of leaves during my travels.  Once, I saw a beautiful turned grape leaf and seemed to have a passion to the recreate  it on a gourd creation.  My patrons motivate me to continue to strive for even more excellence in my art form.