My passion for color was sparked in middle school by the gift of hand-me down architectural magazines from a favorite aunt. A summer spent cutting out the pages and organizing them by colorway led to a fun-filled lifetime of color explorations in 2D and 3D. The eventual realization that traditional color theories do not work in practice inspired my creation of Smashing Color workshops in 1994.

I retired as an architectural designer in 2015 and now spend my time guiding teachers, artists and designers in their personal explorations of the multi-disciplinary world of color.

In my role as chair of the international Colour Literacy Project, a joint educational initiative of the Inter-Society Color Council of the US (ISCC) and the International Colour Association (AIC), I get to work with an amazing team of enthusiastic color experts who are advocating for updating and expanding color education programs world-wide.

As a member of the Board of Directors of the ISCC and co-chair of the AIC Study Group on Color Education, I am focused on bridging between the art, science and industry of color and advancing color literacy for the 21st century.

Over the years, I’ve co-authored two books on color- 'Polymer Clay Color Inspirations' with Lindly Haunani (2009), and 'Universal Principles of Color' with Stephen Westland (2023).

I live in Portland, Oregon - which I consider one of the most colorful cities in the world.

POLYMER PORTFOLIO

Education
Master of Architecture, Syracuse University. Syracuse, New York. 1988.
Bachelor of Science, Drexel University.  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 1977.

Professional Affiliations
International Color Association (AIC), Co-Chair, Study Group on Colour Education
Inter-Society Color Council (ISCC), President
Chair, Joint ISCC/AIC Colour Literacy Project

International Polymer Clay Association (IPCA)
National Art Education Association (NAEA)
American Craft Council (ACC)

Publications
Universal Principles of Color, co-authored with Stephen Westland, Rockport Publishing, 2023
Color Inspirations, co-authored with Lindly Haunani, Random House, 2009.

Teaching History
Oregon Society of Artists
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Split Rock Summer Arts Program
Coupeville Arts Center
Torpedo Factory Arts Center
North Country Studio Workshops
International Polymer Clay Association Synergy Conferences
Ravensdale Conferences
Design with Heart Fiber Arts Conferences
Houston Quilt Festival
Polymer Clay Haven Conference
Quilts, Inc Embellishments Shows
Masters Invitational Polymer Clay Show
San Antonio Fiber Arts Guild
Columbia Stitchery Guild

Selected Work in Museums | Galleries | Shows
(in)Organic, Racine Art Museum, 2014
A Re-Visioning: New Works in Polymer, H.F. Johnson Gallery 2014
Animal Instinct, Metalsmith Exhibit in Print, 2014
The Body Adorned, SNAG Virtual Show, 2012
Mingei International Museum, San Diego, CA - Permanent Collection
Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI - Permanent Collection
Santa Fe Weaving Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Facere Gallery, Seattle, WA
Whidney Moore Gallery, Portland, OR
Florida Craftsman Gallery, St. Petersburg, Florida
Boston Society of Artists and Craftsman, Boston, Massachusetts
Brookfield Arts Center, Danbury, Connecticut
Sandusky Art Museum, Sandusky, Ohio
Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, Washington

Selected Work in Publications
American Craft Magazine, Winter, 2014
Ornament Magazine, Summer 2013
The Polymer Arts Magazine, Fall, 2012
Polymer Clay Global Perspectives, Potter Craft-Random House, 2012
Ornament Magazine, Summer, 2011
Masters: Polymer Clay, Lark Press, 2011
Terra Nova: Polymer at the Crossroads, 2011
Polymer Clay Color Inspirations, WatsonGuptill-Random House, 2009
The Art of Polymer Clay , Watson Guptill, 2007
Polymer Clay Creative Traditions, Watson Guptill, 2006
400 Polymer Clay Designs, Lark Press 2004
Images on Clay II, Design Originals, 2002
Ornament Magazine, Spring 2000
Foundations in Polymer Clay Design, Barbara McGuire, Krause, 1999

PAST WORKSHOPS

2021 - 2023

Due to COVID19, no workshops.

2020

Due to COVID19
All 2020 courses are now cancelled.

Color20 Conference
San Diego
Jan 11-14

Leap Into Colour
Portland, OR
Feb 29

Heartland Center
Parkville, MO
Mar 30 - Apr 5

Dresden, Germany
Apr 17-18

NEPAG
Boston, MA
Apr 25 - Apr 26

Orlando Fandango
Lake Yale, FL
Apr 29 - May 4

ISCC | IACC
New Haven, CT
Jun 6-10

Smashing Color Week
Portland, OR
Sep 7-11

Clay Out West
Albuquerque, NM
Sep 14-17

AIC 2020
Avignon, France
Oct 5-9

Color Week 2020
Albuquerque, NM
Oct 27 - Nov 1

2019

Portland, Oregon
February 9

Minneapolis,  Minnesota
March 22
March 23-24

Smashing Color Week
Portland, Oregon
April 22-26

Ghent, Belgium
May 23-25

Houten, The Netherlands
May 26

Trosa, Sweden
May 28-30

Color Inspirations Week
Portland, Oregon
July 8-13

Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 11
October 12-13

Santiago, Chile
October 20-22

Lima, Peru
October 25-28

2018

London, England
February 3-4

Aix-en-Provence, France
February 6-8

Brussels, Belgium
February 10-11

Portland, Oregon
September 3-7

Amsterdam, The Netherlands
September 15-16

Lisbon, Portugal
September 25-30

Pilzen, Czech Republic
October 4-7