How it all began​

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I hope that by sharing this story I encourage at least one person to follow their dream.

To say I am a late bloomer is an understatement. I am not being hard on myself, just honest. I am grateful for all I have been through.

My high school years were spent immersed in the making of art.  I took every class available: macramé, jewelry making, painting, interior design and spent most time in the ceramic studio.  I was infatuated with throwing on the wheel, but never cared much about glazing or even finishing my work. I just loved the process.  

Then, I took a sculpture class. That was the beginning of my love for the human form. I did not make sense of my deep need to create sculpture regularly even then. 

I went to college without a clear path.  My mom had recently married her second husband, who became a force in my life; for better and worse. He took his role as a father to my three sisters and I very seriously!  He was an extremely successful businessman and thought he was being helpful by influencing me to pursue a stable career path in college. I find it completely mind blowing that I never once considered pursuing a major in Art. Nor did I believe a career as an Artist was a viable pursuit. So,  after switching majors four times I ended up obtaining a BA in Business/Marketing.

Then the truth began revealing itself. I wondered why I wasn’t finding fulfillment in my work.

I began listening to my-self: and by 'self' I mean the part of me that does not speak in words.  The part of me that I can only hear in quiet whispers. The part of me that knows what is best for Katie, the part of me that does not need or want to ask others for advice, the part of me that I long to hear more and more...

I was working in fashion and felt the force in my soul pushing me to get my hands in clay;  specifically, making a human head. That drive stirred in me until the day a particular customer brought me a miracle message of sorts. She told me of a sculptor teaching evening figurative classes at a high school five minutes from my home. Finally, I had found my way back to clay.

 The first portrait head I modeled seemed to come together like I had done a million before. Nothing in my life had ever felt so visceral. I recall my instructor whispering to me, “If I were grading this it would be an A+”.  I am still intrigued at this whole process.  How did I end up in his class? Where did this woman come from who introduced me to it?  

Eventually from the evening class,  I moved on to attend a local University with a Sculpture Department specializing in Classical Figurative Sculpture. I still didn't take any of this seriously. I was just following the leads put in front of me. One step seemingly leading to the next. I was just showing up enjoying something I loved. Again, I found myself attracted to modeling the Head. I also learned many other techniques: mold making, bronze casting, etc.  I was asked to be the Teaching Assistant. I never intended on pursuing a degree but I was pregnant with my first child and realized I had acquired enough classes to secure a Masters in Sculpture just in time to give birth to one of my two best creations ever!

Fast forward 20 years... 

I was lucky to be a stay at home mom.  It was by far the best job of my life.  But, as time went on I began aching for clay. I would look up classes for sculpture. I was scared to death to take one. What if I couldn’t do it anymore? What if everyone else in the class was better than me?  What if…

I pushed forward but pursued abstract figures in hopes of producing more “current” work.  

Evidently, I still wasn’t being true to myself.  Because, once I began working on a Portrait Head again the stars lined up. I'm not sure what happens when you’re following your souls calling but it was clear that I was on to something. People in this communal studio began noticing my work. I'm an introvert so I wasn’t attracting attention with my words. Yet, as I worked on mastering the Portrait the attention was magnetic.  I was encouraged to teach a class.  Though I was scared beyond belief this leap has been an amazing addition to my life.    

On days I'm not teaching in my home studio, you’ll find me creating my own ceramic sculptures or doing commission portraits. I am constantly looking for growth, both personally and professionally.  I take as many workshops as I can.   I am excited to increase  my internet presence and reach people all over the world!  I look forward to sharing skills I have gathered these past 25+ years  by adding an on-line class and a blog where creatives like me can find support and courage to manifest their dreams.