I am a studio artist. For 24 years, I resided in Colorado until relocating back to Canada in late 2016. I attended York University (Arts) and Ryerson (at the time Polytechnic Institute for Design). After a Craft Residency at Pilchuk Glass School in Seattle, I attended Pikes Peak Community College for metal smithing. My coursework focused on colour and material development. My creations reflect my experience with fiber, my unique sense of color and include my own lampwork beads.
I have done fine arts/crafts shows throughout Colorado, Michigan and starting in 2017, Ontario.
At Karen Reece Designs, I make jewelry. All the larger beads are made by me, by hand. They are lampwork, where soda-lime (soft) glass is melted in the heat of a single-fuel torch and wound around a steel mandrel. All my beads are kiln-annealed for durability. I make most of my findings. They are silver or copper, handmade by me, or acquired. All of the hollow beads and most of the other beads have metal (copper, silver, aluminum that is etched by laser) riveted onto the end of the bead.
