Artist Of The Month – November 2007

	Wendy Hoffman Brownsville, OR Email: moonbeadarts@hotmail.com	Mailing Address: P.O. Box 608 Brownsville, OR 97327 Telephone: (541) 401–0850

What do you love about Art Clay? I love it’s versatility, ease of use, beauty and how you never have to waste any, it can always be re–hydrated. Even the already fired pieces that I decide I don’t like can be made into granulations and used on other creations.
What are your favorite Art Clay projects/creations? I like to use Art Clay with my lampwork glass beads and with glass cabochons.
What other media do you work and/or teach in? I make lampwork glass beads, glass cabochons and do some wire work. I teach basic wireworking.
Biography: Wendy Hoffman is a jewelry artisan living and working in Brownsville, OR. She has been fascinated by the creative arts as long as she can remember, dabbling in painting, improv, music and various other arts, but didn’t find her niche until about 9 years ago when she discovered the lure of beads! When her husband asked what she was gong to do with all of those earrings she was making, she said "sell them" and her business, Moon Bead Arts, was born. Over the last 7 years she has broadened her jewelry making talents to include Art Clay, thus opening the possibility of making completely individual artistic creations. She became a Senior Instructor in 2003 and teaches Art Clay classes in the northwest area. About 3 years ago Wendy began learning to make lamp worked glass beads. The process of making beads involves melting glass in a torch flame and winding the hot glass around a metal mandrels. She loves to make jewelry pieces combining her glass beads and Art Clay. She has shown her work in many area shows and has sold her jewelry in stores and galleries around the northwest.
Philosophy: "Creativity is the imagination at play with the things it loves." Carl Jung. I believe that creativity is of utmost importance in life. The idea that we have the ability to create, that which has never been made before, is so amazing. I satisfy my longing for artistic meaning in life through my work as a jewelry artisan. I find the process of creating at least as important as the resulting creation. My pieces are formed from Art Clay Silver and Gold, lamp worked glass and semi–precious beads, wire and other organic materials. I make many different individually created bracelets, necklaces, rings and pins from the very dressy to everyday informal. I find that once I have created a piece, the challenge has been met and I move on to a new idea, hence no two pieces are alike.
Awards / Degrees: I have never entered any contests with my jewelry. For whatever reason I don’t have a desire have my artwork compete with that of others!! I have a Masters Degree in Counseling. Although this has nothing to do with art, it has everything to do with being a successful teacher.

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