I have been working with glass as an art medium for more than 20 years. Although I have become proficient in all forms of art glass, kiln-formed glass has become my medium of choice. It's so much fun, it's like playing in the sandbox everyday! I started working with fused glass 8 years ago. I made my first mask early in my training and since then every piece of glass art I make becomes a mask. Each has its own style and personality. It was so rewarding to make my first mask it actually transformed my life. Working with glass has always been therapeutic for me but fused glass is especially inspiring because the finished product stays a surprise until the kiln is cool enough to open. To this day, I am still filled with happiness as each new mask is revealed. Sometimes the finished product is so funny I start to laugh. Sometimes the finished product is so majestic; I can't believe I could have made it! My masks are made through my heart and soul, and it is my hope that each person who sees my creations receives that added sparkle that comes from doing something you love. Technically, I use various colors and textures of glass that gain perspective and depth with each firing. Some have 5 or more layers which means they have been fired in the kiln more than 5 times. To make the finished piece three dimensional, I slump the flat glass over a custom mold. I use actual people's faces to make my molds. When someone sees my masks I want them to feel its spirit. I believe we are all kindred spirits, looking for ways to compliment and complete ourselves. I believe we are also looking for connections = ways to communicate with other human beings. I feel my masks open a doorway for this process.