About a Girl

I am...

a work in progress

an artist

a teacher

a learner

a writer

an ARTrepreneur

a lover

a dreamer

a vision maker

an adventurer

a collector of experiences

an agent of change

a force of good

a creator

As a little girl, I was always writing and drawing and creating my own little worlds. I lived for that magical moment when something that didn't exist before was brought into being because of my hands. The older I got, the more I ignored my creative urges. I let my “grown-up” life consume me. Art still had a very strong pull, but I didn’t allow myself enough time to make it. Fortunately, it found a way to seep into my days. Art made me. 

It took years for me to finally get honest with myself and realize that my whole life could be a creative act. Now I’m starting to grow into my true self and seeing that I’m just not me without art and creativity. It’s not an option to ignore the urges anymore. I think I’m making up for lost time because I’m drawn to so many forms of creative expression and often can’t keep up with myself. I am finding my voice through art. I have always been more of a dreamer than a doer, but at this point in my life I’m learning to take action to manifest my dreams. I am learning to LET GO and CREATE.

After nearly a decade of teaching elementary school, I decided to reclaim my own childhood and the days of being fearless and free. Taking a lesson from my young students, I make meaning of art and life through play and exploration. When I’m not discovering art in nature, I work out of my tiny bedroom-turned-home studio built for me by my endlessly supportive and creative husband. I love getting my hands dirty and making a     beautiful mess. As a writer and lover of words, I blend text with my photography, pyrography, encaustic and mixed-media paintings and collages, allowing each piece to take on a voice of its own. While strengthening the connection with my own creative source, I hope to inspire and empower the inner child in others to speak its truth.

Nature is an endless source of inspiration for me. I am blessed to live in a place where blue skies, grand trees, green grass, soft sand and salty waves are in abundance. When I look at a scene in nature, I tend to dissect it into colors, forms and textures. Then I find ways to represent it through mixed media. My mind makes very random connections, so collaging various elements and mixing different mediums seems natural to me. I strive to see life through fresh eyes every day and create original work that is          born out of the moment. I am madly nostalgic. Patina and rust call to me from their former glory. I love anything vintage, weathered and worn. Old photographs and the poetic language of antique texts make me swoon. I practice techniques to make my pieces look like they’ve been around a while and have old stories to tell. We all have stories to tell!

For me, the creative process mimics the journey of life. I use creative expression as a way to learn about myself and build a balanced life rich with joy and meaning. Art helps me notice and appreciate the little things. Art feeds my soul.