“Hi, my name’s Tammy, and I’m addicted to art.”  

         That is what you might hear me say if I were at an AAA (Art Addicts Anonymous) meeting.   My love for art began at a very young age. While other children enjoyed playing with dolls, games and ball...I enjoyed coloring books, crayons, paper, pencils, chalks and paints.  I began fashioning jewelry from old, multi-colored telephone wire that my father brought home for me one day. My father was a millwright by trade and I can remember always wanting to watch him weld things together.  I used to play with his tools in the garage and wear his welding helmet at times.  My grandfather was a woodworker and I would love to go into his shop, smell the newly cut wood, play in the shavings and look at all of the tools and machines. I now realize and find it fascinating that the things I was interested in as a child was actually the foundation and the beginning of my journey towards the artistic person I am today.

I enjoy working with various mediums and design, color and texture captivates me.  I enjoy exploring the contrast between textured and smooth, metal and non-metal surfaces. Working in polymer clay, metal clay and various other mediums allow me to play with these concepts. 

I began working in polymer clay in 1994, and Precious Metal Clay in 2004 receiving my certification in 2007. I also work in sterling silver, copper, glass, fibers and resin.  I recently authored a fun and informative book called Metal Clay in a Day that hit the stores in June of 2008 and I have work featured in  Polymer Clay Creative Traditions by Judy Belcher and the June '08 issue of PolymerCAFE magazine.  

I studied metal clay at Arrowmont School for the Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN.  I have attended various polymer clay and jewelers workshops, conferences, retreats and design workshops that genuinely contributed to my knowledge of various mediums. I have demonstrated in retail venues and have taught polymer clay to children and adults alike.  I have received several honors and awards for my work and I am truly grateful.  I currently offer classes in polymer clay and precious metal clay away from and at my home studio.  I market my work at a juried artisan center in Beckley, West Virginia called Tamarack, have served on their jury board and I am an occasional fill in for their Artisan Advisory Board.  I am also focusing on gallery work.

 My skills and abilities have expanded greatly over the last few years with the addition of new media to my repertoire.  Each and every day I’m inspired to continue my education and application of new and interesting techniques.  I encourage anyone who thinks they are not artistic to reach inside themselves and grab hold of their creative side, because it’s there, you just have to wake it up!

 

                                                                                         Peace and God Bless