Artist Monica Phillips Monica Phillips has a B.S. in biological sciences and has worked for many years in the pharmaceutical research industry. As a child growing up in Philadelphia, PA, art programs were not available, and she had no idea of her artistic abilities until her move to California in 1992. In 1994, she attended her first Walnut Creek Civic Arts class in wheel-thrown ceramics. Wanting more instant gratification than ceramics could offer, she quickly became interested in fused glass, studying fusing, slumping and cold-working techniques. In 2001, seeking more ways to melt glass, or, as her husband says, seeking more ways to spend money on supplies, she studied glass flameworking at the Crucible in Oakland, and learned how to make beads, small bottles, marbles, paperweights and goblets. Her involvement with the Crucible evolved into a teaching position, demonstrating art glass techniques to adults and youth, and conducting demonstrations at the Crucible's yearly Fire Festivals. Wanting to incorporate her small glass pieces into jewelry, Monica learned how to work with copper, brass, gold and silver in her small and airless home studio, aka "The Shed". Monica has participated in the Walnut Creek Civic Art show from 1998-2008, the Crucible and juried art shows from 2005-2007 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Monica moved to Issaquah in October 2008, and quickly found flameworking classes at the Pratt Art Center in Seattle, and at the UpFront gallery. She plans on teaching jewelry classes and currently displays glass jewelry at the UpFront Gallery. click on an image to view a larger version