There are a few different approaches I take depending on the piece. In general I don’t really know how the piece will end up; the piece reveals itself as I work on it. New techniques may need to be worked out, or it is a version of something I’ve done already. Some pieces are finished quickly, some take a period of time as I wait for inspiration to complete it or develop the technique to create the desired effect.

An urge to create without a specific goal or situation will lead me to rummage through the odds and ends tote box where all my found objects are. As I root through the items, touching them, I ask for inspiration to come from the pieces. A particular piece may show the sculpture design it needs right away or a few items will make it to my work bench and a design will come to me in a minute, an hour, or days.

As a person gifted with dyslexia I experience the world in pictures and feelings. These can be difficult for me to express in words, spoken or written.  It’s not healthy to keep this stuff bottled up inside so I produce a sculpture to express my emotions, my gender expression, etc. This helps my therapist know what’s going on with me when I can’t find the words. It’s very rewarding to see all the stuff that has been bottled up inside me in physical form.

A person or situation can inspire me to make a sculpture. Usually someone’s struggle will spark a design but a positive experience with someone can lead to a sculpture too. Inspiration is indeed everywhere.