About Me

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, I migrated to Massachusetts in the late 1980s, where I farmed for a few years, then put myself through college (BFA Cum Laude, 1995; University of Massachusetts at Amherst). In 2001 I ventured into a career in web design.

In my free time I enjoy making art, bicycling, motorcycling, snowshoeing, playing ice hockey, cooking, making movies, taking photographs, playing bass guitar, singing, designing, reading, and writing.

My Interest in Art

I love making beautiful things and exploring different mediums. If I had to label my style, I think it would be something like “deeply whimsical.” That’s what I strive for, anyway.

The photo on this page is a self portrait I took using an old Pentax Spotmatic (film) camera that my grandfather gave me. It shows the process of oxyacetylene welding. Two gases—oxygen and acetylene—are combined under regulated pressures, and are ignited at the tip of the welding torch to form a blue flame hot enough to melt steel. The sculptor swirls the flame to distribute the heat, and adds more steel to the cherry-red molten pool via the rod held in the other hand.

In many cases, arc welding (which uses electricity) would be more efficient for such a basic joining operation. But flame-based welding is attractive to the sculptor because it is easier on the eyes, and it supports other organic metalworking techniques such as bending, hammering, distressing, and adding patinas.

Web Design

By vocation I work as a senior in-house web designer in the energy industry in New England. I have more than a decade’s worth of expertise communicating, educating, and creating experiences on the Web using HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, images, movies, and the English language.

Over the course of my career I’ve worked independently, in a small start-up, for a medium family-owned publishing company, and with a large corporation. I’ve enjoyed many aspects of each of these situations. Speaking more broadly, I love this job! Over the past several years I’ve become enamored with WordPress (the “download and install it yourself” version), and use it to power this website.

I have written a more in-depth story about my history on the Web, and will continue to add work to my portfolio as it occurs. I hope you enjoy your visit, and come back again soon.

—Trace Meek