Concept. Design. Create.

I remember a long time ago while visiting my great grandmother, she introduced me to a neighbor. Proudly she said, "This is my great-granddaughter Tracy. Give her a toothpick, string and a piece of tape and she will make you whatever you want." I will never forget those words because I felt validated in my creative abilities.
My dad was a bit of a renaissance man and was my first creative influence. I don't remember, as I was still an infant, he had painted the entire solar system on the living room ceiling. We always had the latest technological gadgetry from a fiber optic novelty lamp to Atari's pong. He had been an artist and when I was old enough he gave me his set of pastels. He taught me to fire weapons, fix cars, astronomy and how to understand nature . All his knowledge and skills became the backbone of who I am today.
Mid to late 70's I became heavily influenced by sci-fi movement on television. Everything I saw on programs like Buck Rogers, Battlestar Galactica, The Land of the Lost, and Electra Woman and Dyna Girl. Every birthday and Christmas I asked for toys based on all these programs and all I got were dolls. So learned to make my own Colonial Viper and Star Fighter. I started building all my own toys out of whatever I could find but mostly paper.
In recent years, I went back to school at Art Center College of Design taking a variety of courses. I started with Industrial Design Modeling. It was hands on experience learning materials like plaster, silicone, urethane, rubber, acrylic, plastic and resins. Training included a multitude of power tools such as wood lathe, band saw, and vacuum form. Furniture Design was a revisit of all the tools I had previously used. I continued design courses in Environmental Design and Lighting Design. From both these courses I learned how to humanize a space by creating emotional elements, and recognizing physical and psychological aestethics. Everyday I build my skill level.

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