I have a deep passion for working in various mediums. I don’t ever like to stick to just one thing. I feel as though each medium helps me express myself in slightly different ways. In the end the themes all connect, but the journey ends up being varied and exciting. You find out different things about yourself when you work in different forms and I feel like each form tells a different side of the same story.

 

2 – When you do jewelry you create pieces that are full of magick. Can you explain what the process is and what is special about creating talismans rather than just jewelry? My goal is to really create pieces that aren’t just jewels, but that also function as talismans and that hold special significance. I love the idea of a jewel that holds multiple functions and meanings, even if they are hidden; something you can wear that also feels deeply symbolic or magickal. It adds another layer to the piece and I feel like it gives it more power, which I hope the wearer can relate to and use to help empower themselves. I love the idea of jewels that really empower the wearer and help them release or discover different parts of themselves.

Ever since I was a child I was obsessed with anything related to magick. It’s always been a part of me and I always felt very connected to it on a deeper level. When I was around 9 years old I vividly remember writing an essay on Wicca and presenting it to my teacher. It just seemed to make sense to me more than anything else I was raised to believe. For a long time I was oppressed by normative structures and more mainstream religion was pushed upon me, so I used art as a form of escape and expression – it makes sense that magick found a way into my work.

When I was a kid I remember spending weeks making elaborate costumes, dressing my friends up as fairies or magickal beings and making them pose for photos…so I suppose not much has changed.

I’m very inspired by femininity, and I enjoy exploring different ways in which femininity can be both delicate and powerful.

Right now I’m obsessed with the concept of the femme fatale – both throughout history and throughout popular culture and film. I find it so fascinating and also inspiring, even though it was born out of male fears about feminism. I’m interested in subverting male-made tropes about women and reclaiming them for ourselves as a source of power. I like asking the question “what if?” – what if we lived in a world where femininity was valued instead of being devalued by society? What would that look like?

5 – What does darkness mean to you? To me, darkness means beauty. It also means balance, and strength. Suffering from extreme depression, you learn to embrace the darker parts of yourself and find beauty and strength within those aspects. What some call weakness can be transformed into a strength if you allow it. Really accepting the darkness within yourself can be the biggest challenge but also the most rewarding. It also means balance – for there is no darkness without light, and it’s important to remember that and to keep things in perspective. Being in tune with the darker parts inside of me has really helped fuel my creative works. A lot of intense experiences I’ve had have lead me to create certain pieces as a way of coping and coming to terms with what I’ve been through. I feel grateful I’ve been able to feed off my experiences in such a productive way.

6 – What kind of people do you like to work with?
I love working with people who are passionate – both about life and about their work and about creating. There is something very exhilarating about collaborating with another artist who is just as driven and inspired by the project as you are, and feeding off each others energies.