Meet The Artist

The Essence of My Art

Regardless of the subject matter in my art, I strive to evoke an uplifting spirit, a hint of mystery, and a profound sense of belonging. I believe these elements are vital in creating a harmonious atmosphere in one’s home. I aim to create a sanctuary away from the chaos of the world for all who are attracted to my art style. 

I agree with this Pierre-Auguste Renoir quote…

“To my mind, a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful and pretty. There are too many unpleasant things as it is, without creating still more of them.”

Won over by the majesty of our natural world, I find, with the attitude of Renoir, that I can still tackle ‘weighty themes’ such as the impact of human activity on wildlife and still bring joy and beauty to our lives.

A Bizzare Childhood

They say that children who were raised with little affection tend to have certain traits, such as deeply empathetic toward others, sensitive, afraid to ask for help, being very independent… and I fit completely into that list.

It wasn’t that my parents and siblings were mean or insensitive; it’s that I was misdiagnosed as a toddler of needing to be heavily medicated for seizures. I was put on two very strong drugs (Phenobarbital and Dilantin) which caused me to be hyperactive, hallucinate and be unaware of what was around me. I was numb. I couldn’t focus or tell what was real and what was an illusion. I was a wild child with no social skills who didn’t learn to read past a third grade level or do math. But somewhere in there I became an artist and connected with animals and nature.

The medication mistake wasn’t realized until I was starting high school. I was taken off the drugs and once they wore off, a sweet, compliant child emerged. Realizing I had no education to speak of, but an IQ of 159, I proceeded to teach myself.

To make a long story short, I was an over achiever that graduated with a BFA degree, Magna cum Laude from college and then went on to receive my Master’s in Education.

Why is all this important?

As an artist and former feral child, I have a unique perspective connecting the beauty of nature with the responsibilities of humans. How small mistakes can have enormous results as much as small efforts can reap much. There is a connection to everything.

You can see a glimpse of my childhood in my art. Some appears quite normal until you look deeper, while other works will take you through unexpected twists, turns, holes and fog, playing games with your mind…making you wonder if what you see is really what was meant to be. I invite you to enjoy the results of a bizarre childhood… An Altered Reality.