I discovered my passion for art working with clay as a grade school student living in southern
California. I am now established as the Diving Cat Studio and Gallery in Phoenixville, PA creating
pottery sculpture and glass art.
Clay allows me to work in three dimensions with few limitations. I work with earthenware,
red clay, stoneware and porcelain. My favorite subjects are found in the forest: animals, bugs,
leaves, rocks and sticks. These themes are sculpted and also illustrated on vessels. I like to use a
broad palate of color and abstract design. Sculptures of dogs, cats and birds are also a recurring
themes in my work. Half of my studio space is used for pottery and clay sculpture.
Over the years, while my artistic skills developed, I was introduced to glass as an expressive
medium. I became fascinated with the challenge of a whole new world; of lighting the torch and
transforming the flame into my creative tool. I have been extraordinarily successful in evolving
this fascination into a full time career and establishing my studio with both clay and glass.
The portion of my studio dedicated to glass has two worktables with their distinctive torches.
One is dedicated to glass sculpture, using borosilicate and soda lime glass. The other is for Italian
glass from Murano (soda lime), from which I make glass beads and design my original line
of jewelry.
To create the beads, no two of which are identical, I melt the glass in a torch flame of up to 2,000
degrees. As the temperature rises, the glass melts and moves, similar to the way the elements
heat and form in the earth's core. Colors and layers of glass converge and marry, mysteriously
creating a visual and totally unique wonder, which I then couple with hand-formed sterling. The
piece realizes its ultimate completion only when it and its wearer come together.
For 25 years, my grandmother, as head of Women's Wardrobe at MGM studios, and my mother,
as a costumer, dressed actors and actresses on the movie set. I have come to realize that my
pleasure of adorning people with jewelry has come from watching my mother and grandmother
at their work.
I have participated in workshops and lessons from glass artists whose work I most admire including
Tom and Sage Holland, Brian Kirkfleet, Janice Miltonberger, Suellen Fowler and Loren
Stump. Recently, I began a series of workshops in Murano, Italy, including lessons with glass
sculptor, Lucio Bubaco.
My artistic goal is to instill a sense of emotional happiness and genuine intrigue in those who see
my work or wear it. Through my work, I wish to be uplifting and, thereby, promote joy in others. |
- Owner, Diving Cat Studio and Gallery
- Artist specializing in pottery, glass jewelry, and glass sculpture
- Gallery Host
- Studio Instructor
- Expert in Murano glass techinques.
More about Markels trip to Murano
Published Articles (PDFs)
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