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About Me...
As with many artists, I was introduced to art at a young age and showed great aptitude in art class, I was introduced to many types of mediums such as pencil drawing, watercolor, pen and ink, acrylics, silk screen, print making, sculpture, pottery and commercial art. I focused my efforts in those areas through high school and prepared a portfolio for college.
After high school I went college and felt like it was just another year of high school. I was more advanced in art but not in academics. I didn't really care about that, I just wanted to create. I left college after a year and a half and went to work in the construction and maintenance field. I loved to work with my hands and fix things, learning carpentry, painting, plumbing and heating, welding, electrical and mechanics. After seventeen years I decided to go back to college at age 30 where I earned an associates degree in science in video and radio production in 1995 and a certificate in graphic design at Rhode Island School of Design in 1997.
From 1996 to 2025 I worked as a graphic designer and creative director. My career took me from Rhode Island to Florida where I was creative director of "Divers Direct" and "World Watersports" a chain of SCUBA diving stores with a national quarterly catalog. I also led and managed 2 photoshoots in the Caribbean. One in Turks and Caicos (2003) and the other in Grand Cayman in 2005. I would produce a total of 13, 120 page catalogs. I also concentrated on photography, contributing to some of the catalogs I designed and traveled to key areas to capture nature and landscapes. Later, I moved to Phoenix, AZ where I worked for a large insurance company for 6 years and then for myself until 2025. I continued doing photography mainly in national parks.
I began working with rocks in 2023. Back then, I was cutting rocks with a small tile saw and shaping them with a cheap chinese made lap (you know the ones) a rotary tool and a vibratory rock tumbler. Those of you who work with rocks know it is not to soon you are buying equipment, burs, tools and rocks to work on. Working with rock can be very enjoyable and addicting! After a while you will look for them everywhere you go! Lapidary gear is best when you buy it used and cheap! otherwise, prepare to dish out a fair chunk of change on a cab machine or a flat lap. I found some of my equipment at an auction and you can even find some on Facebook.
I was lucky to live in Phoenix where in January through early March you have several rock shows each year including the Tucson International Rock and Gem Show (largest rock show in the world) and 2 different shows in Quartzite, AZ. Going to these shows is a massive treat and I usually spend up to $500 just on rock. I have built a fairly large collection of rock that could keep me busy for years. but I still purchase more if I have never worked with it or have a demand for it. In 2023 I began featuring my work in Phoenix at local markets with vintage and antique items and then went 100% Jewelry in 2024. My goal is to improve my work, try new things and purchase some new equipment to help me create better pieces.
PERMANENTLY STONED | Hand-crafted Stone Jewelry
Middletown, RI 02842 | Contact Me