I recently traded a pilot helmet for hand plane, following my passion for craft after a ten-year career as an officer and Blackhawk Helicopter Maintenance Test Pilot in the U.S. Army. I served in Iraq and have been stationed all over the world, including Germany, Alaska, and Egypt. While seemingly two different areas of expertise, my career in the Army unexpectedly prepared me to design and build. The discipline necessary to command soldiers and to test broken helicopters has translated into an astute attention to detail and an unwavering work ethic.

I have accumulated many sources of inspiration from my years traveling and meeting a variety of people across the globe. As a woman, a soldier, and a dreamer, I have many experiences to draw from, and I use those experiences to fuel my pieces. I employ a variety of media and techniques to include image transfers, encaustics, and glass to enhance my furniture pieces. Always looking for a new experiment, I find the journey of the creative process its own reward.

I earned a BSJ in Advertising/Journalism from Ohio University in 2001 and two Woodworking and Furniture Making Degrees from Vermont Woodworking School in 2012 and 2013. I am pursuing my MFA in Craft and Material Studies at VCU (Virginia Commonwealth Virginia).

Visit Alicia’s website to learn more.