About Me

It all started about seven years ago when I woke up to sudden and severe joint problems. I couldn't open my right hand and that soon spread to all of my joints. I thought I was dying. I thought I was going to be in a wheelchair. To make a long, long arduous story short, that led to several surgeries, including a disk replaced in my neck at C5-C6. I woke up from that surgery with only one thought in my head, "I want to be an artist." I wasn't wondering where I was or what had happened, I wasn't searching for my mother or my friends, I just had this one crystal clear thought. However, I didn't wake with magical art skills, I started drawing faces, and they were awful at first...but I slowly got better and then I started watercolor paintings and then acrylic paintings and then oils and silversmithing. My joint issues ended up being possible autoimmune issues and the result of food allergies. It took three years, eighteen doctors, and four surgeries with very long recovery times to diagnose and two naturopaths and lots of out of pocket costs to fix. I'm still not right, I still struggle, especially with an awful knee replacement and scar tissue revision surgery, but now here I am, a working artist!!! I'm also a technology teacher in a public school, but I'm hoping to retire from that within a few years to be able to create art and exercise full time in order to keep my body strong. I wish for time and peace to be able to take care of myself and really just have time to breathe.

Through my art I wish to spread joy, hope, and love. The world feels so icky lately, I wish to remind others that we can still find beauty if we pay attention. We can still find peace in our breath, in ourselves. We can build stronger relationships and contribute to a nicer world. Prints for World Peace Club came out of inspiration of other snail mail clubs.  A monthly postcard print. A moment of calm. A small act toward a more peaceful world.

Though I'm an outsider artists, I have taken several RISD continuing education classes and I'm working on a certificate in Nature Illustration and another in Oil Painting. I take classes whenever I can afford to. I'm also a member of the Washington Art Association, Five Points, and The Kent Art Association and I've had my work in several member shows for WAA. 

Please consider supporting my journey.