After 25 years as a newspaper reporter and editor I left the world of words to pursue my passion for making, not with words, but with my hands. I have since found that the core skills needed for my career in journalism are quite similar to those that could distinguish me in art. The best written stories depend on the sequence of ideas, just as in designing. Each word and sentence must be irreplaceable and inextricably linked to those preceding and following; each piece and detail of an image or sculpture should exist for a reason. By making connections, you create a cohesive whole that draws readers inside. And just as in design, deep research and analysis precede any good piece of design - not just a few moments with Google to bolster a superficial preconception, but drill-deep investigation and interviewing that demand focus and patience and invite discovery.

Now I am finding also that compelling art - like writing - is the practice of persuasion and seduction. Point, line and plane come together to make visual and visceral statements - arguments.

My backstory is simple: I grew up working with wood and metal and through the years continued to make sculpture and furniture as a hobby. In 2007, despite no formal architecture background I was accepted into the University of Kentucky School of Architecture’s Accelerated Master’s Program. My portfolio draws from my academic work in architecture, life of artwork and decades in journalism, all with the goal of illustrating my range of abilities: from architectural design and graphic representation to fabrication, writing and public speaking.