I am a fine artist with over 20 years of experience in creative pursuits. I have a degree in Apparel Design and Fine Art from Seattle Pacific University, and my current artistic passions include creating figuratively expressionistic paintings as well as designing my own line of artisan jewelry.
I particularly love painting portraits and figures and aim to capture both the visual complexity of the physical subject in addition to their emotional complexity. My most recent artistic works explore themes of femininity and mental health through a figurative lens, with elements of surrealism and modern expressionism. I juxtapose socio-cultural ideas of femininity and female identity with the experiences of the 21st century woman, and often include personal imagery within my work. I am inspired by trying to capture what words alone cannot– things that beg to be expressed but cannot be easily parsed. I try to capture feelings, emotions, and experiences with color, composition, and blurring the lines between reality and our own inner worlds and imaginings.
I also explore concepts pertaining to mental health. I believe that personal expression through art can be a very meaningful and healing form of therapy and that putting visual imagery to some of the mental health struggles that many people face offers a form of collective healing. At the very least, it is a tangible means of continuing the conversation around mental health, the significant role art can play in ameliorating many of these issues, and breaking down the misconception that we are isolated in our struggles.
My primary medium is oil painting, but I also have experience working in acrylic, chalk pastel, colored pencil, charcoal, graphite, alcohol inks, conte crayon, watercolor, printmaking, metal, fiber arts, and as a muralist. I have had my art exhibited in many local and regional galleries, fulfilled several private artwork commissions, and have also completed murals for both public and private clients –most notably a large, public mural commission in Vancouver, WA at River City Church located on Fourth Plain Boulevard.
I am based in Vancouver, WA, where I live with my husband, three children, two cats, and teach art classes on a part-time basis.
“People like you must create. If you don’t… you will become a menace to society.”
A quote from the novel “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” by Maria Semple, and an apt description of my artistic journey.
All images copyright of the Artist.
A Little Grey Bird 