Years ago, as a student of architecture, I had the good fortune to study abroad. One of the great perks of being an architecture student is that you get to take field trips, much like the ones you take in elementary school. You get on a bus with a bunch of your friends and get taken to fabulous places. That first year in Copenhagen, turned into three years with extended stays in Amsterdam, London, and Spain. In London, I worked for an architecture firm and traveled whenever I had a break in work.

Through Scandinavia, England, Europe and the Middle East, I traveled and sketched and photographed and explored. In every city, the first stop was always the cathedral or mosque. These building types are shrines of architectural ornament. The ceilings, walls, columns, floors are carved, painted, mosaic, gilded or otherwise designed. The soaring walls of color and light from the stained glass in the cathedrals is mesmerizing. The Arabic, Persian or Moorish design in the mosques is absolutely breathtaking. Layers upon layers of geometries and art are visible at every surface. Experiencing some of the world's most inspired structures encouraged my appreciation of patterns. Some patterns are simple and some patterns are ornate, but they seem to permeate the architectural ornamentation of every famous building.

The soaring walls of color and light from the stained glass in the cathedrals is mesmerizing. The Arabic, Persian or Moorish design in the mosques is absolutely breathtaking. Layers upon layers of geometries and art are visible at every surface. Experiencing some of the world's most inspired structures encouraged my appreciation of patterns. Some patterns are simple and some patterns are ornate, but they seem to permeate the architectural ornamentation of every famous building.

As I traveled and explored, I grew inspired to combine all of my interests in the work that I do. After returning to the states, I immersed myself in the building arts. I worked as a carpenter and then as a cabinetmaker. I learned how to make stained glass windows and tile mosaics. I returned to work as a residential designer incorporating a leaded glass studio and a wood shop

Stained glass is a wonderful medium. Each design must suit its architectural surroundings as well as the client's needs and desires. It is a challenge to assimilate the client's ideas and translate those into a design that uses color and light and pattern to complement or even to create the feel of a space. It is also (when appropriate) a wonderful opportunity to work with the hundreds of patterns that I have collected during my travels. I've recreated many of them on paper and turned them into stained glass windows. From Italian designs in marble to Arabic designs in stucco, it is my true passion to revisit and explore the patterns that I find so inspiring.

I am fortunate to live in Portland, Oregon, with its large glass manufacturers, such as Bullseye, Uroboros, and Savoy. Many small glass makers and glass artists also populate this town. I'm a huge fan of textured, richly colored and opalescent glass. I feel a bit like a kid in a candy store.