Kris designs and creates fine- and sterling- silver jewelry that features landscapes, wildlife, and tracks. Her medium is metal clay, in particular silver metal clay, which consists of silver molecules, an organic binder, and water. A kiln firing process removes the binder and water leaving pure silver or 96.2% silver. The metal clay contains 20 to 40% silver reclaimed from industrial waste. Kris’ sculpting is small and often only tools, not fingers, can best influence the clay. She loves silver down to the molecular level, believing it shares qualities with humans: it prefers change be incremental; it reflects light; it is fragile and strong at once. Kris finishes each piece with conventional silver-smithing tools. Kris is a Precious Metal Clay (PMC) Senior Instructor certified by PMC Connection and Rio-Rewards Certified by RioGrande, thanks in part to a grant from the Montana Art Council. In 2012 Kris “passed with distinction the certification review” by the Montana Arts Council. The additional honor of distinction was awarded based on a demonstrated depth of understanding of her art and the development of a strong brand suited for her specific artistic and business niche.