I have had two constant loves, nature and art. Like two threads, these loves have been woven
throughout the fabric of my life at times together and at times
independently. The colors and textures
of nature are a constant theme in my bodies of work.
I received a degree in Marine Biology and worked in this
field until the birth of my first child in 2001. Determined to nurture my child, I became a
stay at home mother. During this time,
needing an artistic outlet, I began to hand-carve silver jewelry. This eventually turned into a full-time
business, and I began to explore other passions in the arts.
I turned to sculpting Bronze, Copper, and Pure Silver. My installations have become a way of
expressing the beauty and fragility of nature using a medium that also comes
from the earth. I combine found items
such as old motorcycle gears, antique hardware, and old watch parts with my
bronze and silver carvings. The pieces
are brought to life with different chemicals that react with the metals to
bring about various colors and textures foreign to these objects.
My latest inspiration came while viewing pictures a friend
had taken from a duck hunt. I found the iridescence and brilliance of these
feathers breath taking. I asked if he would bring home feathers from his next
hunt for use in an art project.
Each feather art piece is truly unique, as they begin with
no specific vision or plan for the outcome, but instead I allow the feathers to
create the intricate patterns themselves and build the piece. Not until the canvas is covered, do I feel
the full effect. During a difficult
period in my life this has become a therapeutic outlet, a way to escape the
world and its troubles and focus on the beauty set before me by God.
Rachael
