Crystal June

I have been surrounded by animals and plants my entire life. I grew up with having cats and other animals; they have always made me happy. My family owned a nursery and landscaping company so there were always plants around. I do not have a natural green thumb, so I like to make organic objects out of nonorganic mediums. When I have a hard time finding an idea for a design I look to nature, between all of the different varieties of plants and animals; the inspiration is endless. I work in the decorative arts because just like the varieties that nature gives for inspiration, there are a variety of different materials to work with. Most of my work is in metal and glass, but sometimes I venture out to fiber, ceramic, or wood for the different esthetic and texture possibilities. I like to use texture to mimic nature’s beauty, to show the bark on a tree or the veins in a leaf. I use a lot of grapes and leaves in my designs because I find it interesting how nature sets up one shape that clusters with multiples of the same shape that combined to make a whole new shape.