When I was young and thumb-sucking was in vogue, I insisted that mine was grape.  I've been happily inventing the flavors of my world ever since.

Today, those flavors are bottled and sit stoically on my shelf in my Southern California studio.  They are my beloved acrylic paints.  Going to the office each day means I pad downstairs and contentedly splash color after glorious color across canvases of every shape and size.  Sometimes wet and messy and other times more restrained, the rhythm of my process is like a dance all my own.  I can't think of a single thing I'd rather be doing instead.

My paintings are the purest form of personal expression that I know how to make.  Each brushstroke carries with it a bit of my journey on this planet.  Rich, soulful colors document a life well-lived.  And if you listen closely, between the many layers of paint, collage, and the occasional found object, you just might hear the whispers of my heart.

As a self-taught artist, I have invested an enormous amount of energy in my growth and career.  Every lesson has been mine to both teach and learn, and that makes me proud.  Moreover, I expect my evolution to continue as long as I am lucky enough to walk this earth.  But I can wait for that... In the meantime, my brushes are always wet and my sketchbook lies within arm's reach, ready to record my latest ideas as they tumble out.  Truly, what could be better?

My home and studio are located within the concrete jungle that is Los Angeles County.  While I yearn for more nature and more space one day, I am grateful for all of the cultural opportunities a big city affords.  I share my home with the love of my life, my husband Steve.  Together we have three incredible kids:  Montgomery, Audrey, and Bentley (Persian, Himalayan, and Welsh Corgi, respectively).

Balancing the demands of my artistic life with everything else always amounts to my biggest challenge.  However when I succeed, I enjoy traveling, working out, meeting friends for coffee, reading, and gardening.  A week doesn't go by that I don't crave chips, salsa, and guacamole... accompanied by an icy cold margarita, of course!  My ideal day includes a visit to the local antique stores or the Rose Bowl flea market for unique finds to use in my artwork.

And that, my friends, is me!

Artist Statements

My Soul Sketches series is a collection of autobiographical works that document experiences and impressions from my life.  By far my most personal work to date, each piece features "the girl" in an often ambiguous environment.  Hope mingles with longing as a sense of something darker and more foreboding lurks just beneath the surface.  It is ultimately up to the viewer to allow his or her own history to inform the piece, thereby assigning it's final meaning.

My Folk Art series uses powerful symbols to tell a story of passion, growth, home, and the fleeting nature of time.  Countless layers of paint and collage combine to create works complex in their construction yet honest and straightforward in their appeal.  Rich in color, these soulful paintings urge the viewer not to take a single moment for granted.

My Carnival of Dreams series is brand new and still evolving.  Stay tuned for more details...