From a young age, I have always looked to water for comfort and tranquility. Having grown up along the shores of Lake Michigan, I knew I wanted to choose a school that was near water to pursue my education. Creating copper jewelry has always been a passion of mine but I decided to choose Nursing as my major. Since then, I have switched from Jewelry and Metalsmithing to a degree in Graphic Design. In between figuring out my path, I was able to acquire the last seat in a printmaking class. Through the process of learning different techniques of printmaking and a five-minute tutorial of Adobe Illustrator from a classmate, I realized the endless possibilities of Graphic Design. For my final design, I wanted to incorporate my journey at Northern Michigan University with a piece of art that reflected my love for copper jewelry, screen printing, Graphic Design and what Michigan has to offer.

My design consists of the major lakes and rivers that hold the beauty of Michigan. By creating a digital transparency print, I was able to screen print a fine detailed design onto a large piece of copper. From there I submerged the metal into an etching solution that delicately etches my design into the copper. To create contrast within my work, I laid the copper into Liver of Sulfur, which creates a dark patina finish on the metal. I wanted to incorporate the beauty of water when the sunlight dances on the surface. The final view of the rivers and lakes that make up Michigan are revealed through the glistening pathways of the copper design.