Growing up in the countryside of Frederick, Maryland, the artist learned to value the natural landscape and the diligent work ethic of the farming community. They studied drawing, art history, printmaking, painting, and sculpture at West Virginia University and Lacoste School of Arts in France, graduating with a teaching degree and a Bachelor of Fine Arts emphasis in pottery. After several stints teaching, drawing portraits, and operating a successful pottery business, they chose to invest their creative efforts in staying home to raise a family.
Throughout their art career, the artist has always appreciated the connection between the mark of the artist's hand indicating how something is made. This led them to choose pastels as their primary method of expression. The pure pigment in the tool of pastels allows the most immediate translation between them and their surface. Many of us lead busy lives full of digital distractions, so the artist strives to notice the overlooked beauty of everyday life. As a result, they see paintings everywhere they go.
Inspired by how the sun illuminates morning dew on their backfield, how deep smile lines around someone's eye tell the story of a happy life, and how traffic lights reflect colors onto the wet pavement on a rainy night, the artist tells stories with their art based on how light transforms objects into contrasting light and dark patterns. They believe we need both of these opposites to better appreciate the other one, just like in life. In their paintings, the artist invites viewers to pause and see the wonder of the world around them, even if found simply in how light falls on an object. They capture treasured memories of places and people that become family heirlooms.
For those looking to bring a touch of beauty and wonder into their homes and offices, prints of the artist's work are available for purchase. Their pieces are sure to add a unique and meaningful touch to any space, serving as a reminder to appreciate the overlooked beauty in everyday life.