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"
I'm drawn to the process of melting glass and its fluidity [whereby]
I can manipulate it into shapes using gravity."
Rifie, originally
from the beautiful islands of the Philippines, migrated to Sydney,
Australia, where she currently resides with her husband and two
4-legged kids named Bongga and Rhys.
As a child, Rifie
was always creative and interested in arts. However, when
offered a choice between art school or the medical field in 1993, Rifie,
being practical, chose a career in the medical field.
She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. Now, however, she is torn
between her two passions, nursing and lampworking. She says,
"if I have my way, and the means or get sponsored, I'll choose
lampworking in a heartbeat."
Making jewelry
since 2005, Rifie found that she was often asked by clients for
beads in specific color and design for their jewelry items. With a
minimal selection available locally, Rifie surfed the auction sites
in search of beads. It was then that she decided she would
"have a go at making beads." In 2006, she signed up for
Kathryn Wardill's four day beginner class. One month later,
she took the four day intermediate class. She also took a
class on hollow beads and vessels in November 2006, with Brenda
Coleman.
Rifie says, "I'm
drawn to the process of melting glass and its fluidity [whereby] I
can manipulate it into shapes using gravity. I often wake up
in the middle of the night with patterns or designs in my head and I
just have to get up and do it."
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Rifie's
family is very supportive of her new found passion, particularly
her husband, Anthony. Rifie says, "Anthony is my major
support, he helps me finance my glass addiction and drives to
Chockadoo to get my supplies and get my beads annealed.
He's been known to accompany me sometimes to the meetings."
She laughingly adds, "He is my number one fan, in fact, some of
the beads I've made have gone AWOL because he kept them for
himself!" Her
parents are also very supportive and have sponsored her attendance at the intermediate course
she took. Her brother also wears and promotes her beads for her.
When asked
which artists inspire her most, Rifie replied, "There are so
many lampwork artists I admire. I love the work of Kathryn
Wardill, Loren Stump, Susan Peters, Teresa Laliberte, Pam Dugger
Kimberly Affleck, Marie Claude-Chapman, Kerry Harper, Bernard
Stonner, Penel Bigg, Lucie Kovarova-Weir and just recently, Marilyn
Peraza.
"[I make]
mostly focals, but I'm aiming to do more sets because I've
recently learned how to make sculpted roses thanks to Marilyn
[Peraza], says Rifie. When asked which technique she
prefers to use, she explained, "Sculptural; I get more
satisfaction handcrafting glass beads this way. It's
challenging the way I paint with stringers and rods."
Rifie's recommendation for a particular product is the DVD she
recently purchased called The Sculpted Rose. She
says, "I highly recommend this DVD because it caters to all
lampwork artists, and although you [may] have basic equipment,
you still get amazing results." (Rifie currently works on
a Hot Head torch). She adds, "It provides a solid ground
for other sculptural flowers - - you just need your
imagination."
We asked
Rifie if there were any artists she would like to meet in person
and if she met them, what would she like to ask. She
replied, "First is Sharon Peters. She rocks! Second
is Marilyn Peraza, it would be a great honor to meet her, the
artist behind the sculpted rose... I'm able to create beautiful
roses that can last for a very long time. For Sharon
Peters, would you consider coming to Sydney, Australia to teach?
And for Marilyn, would you consider making more instructional
DVD's?"
Rifie see's
herself selling beads and jewelry in the future. She also
says, "[I see myself being] an active reporter and actively
involved in lampworking groups (SRA/ANZ, Self Representing
Artists Australia and New Zealand), as well as teaching and
having a proper studio and a website.
A
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Please join us in the forum to
congratulate Rifie, ask her questions, or just say
hello!
Click here to go directly to the thread.
You can see more
of Rifie's work at:
RifiezKritterz Gallery
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