As a young girl I was amazed and inspired by my father's drawings. His ability to capture the likeness of a subject with such precision fascinated me and prompted my attempts to achieve his skill. On top of that his fortitude and tenacity showed me his strength and the possibilities of never giving up. He learned strength and fortitude as a Marine. These qualities came to bear when he was afflicted with polio. Even though his hands were paralyzed, Dad drew a beautiful gardenia, complete with a dewdrop. It was an anniversary gift to my mother. Gardenias were her favorite flower. She was moved by his sentiment and cherished the drawing. I still have the drawing.

With encouragement from my parents and teachers I began a life-long learning process. Even though demands of family diverted my attentions, my interest in the various forms of art always drew me back to creating something with whatever materials that were available. And the materials reflected my preference for the 3 dimensional arts. Through the years I would dabble in various crafts, such as sewing, crochet, macrame and knitting, making Christmas present with each new experiment. Each craft taught me certain important qualities of construction. Once the demands of parenthood lessened I enrolled in college. My studies directed me to other media, such as, plaster, wood, cardboard, steel and finally to good old Mother Earth. I studied ceramics but constraints of time, space and being a nuisance to my neighbors posed problems that were solved by the introduction of metal clay. This new product works in the same way as earthen clay so it fit my needs to a T! And, oh what fun and endless possibilities it has!

I have found some success in working with this metal. I continue learning as I work and all the wonderful people that I have met along the way. I also continue to take classes as the opportunity arises. The latest class was metalsmithing for Jewelry taught by an excellent teacher at a local Community College. I have also received certification in the use of Precious Metal Clay (PMC). This entitles me to teach classes. If you are interested in learning more contact me at karoa2014@att.net