About the Artist

What Rules the Heart, Forms the Art!

Hello!

Glad you stopped by and were curious to learn more about my process. Here's a little bit about myself and why I create.

When asked what kind of artist I am, I often laugh because there isn’t a simple answer. I utilize a variety of media - painting, drawing, collage, ceramics, mixed media sculpture, photography, graphic design - whichever method and materials at the time best represent the ideas I wish to convey.

I paint to stimulate thought.

The human condition. We’ve all experienced it, but do we truly see it? My work poses often unasked questions which directly confront the viewer, diving down the rabbit hole. Each piece invites pondering, cogitation, and introspection. Through it I aspire to break the viewer out of the pervasive mediocrity to consider deeper realities and dimensions. My intent is to pose penetrating questions concerning one’s thoughts, choices, values, beliefs, ethics, and lifestyle. Each piece is an invitation to explore the struggles and resulting consequences between humanity itself and divinity.

I create to connect compassion with conviction.

I desire to engage the mind and heart, and encourage the viewer to spend conscious time with the concept presented. The meaning or message may not always be directly obvious, thus a certain amount of musing is necessary. My predominately figurative work facilitates a more ready association between the viewer and the piece. We are human, and as such we relate to other humans. We read one another’s body language, decipher expressions, and search the soul hidden behind the eyes. Though a painting, photograph, or sculpture may be merely a likeness, neither alive nor breathing, even still a mere image can take on a voice of its own.

I collage introspection with inspiration to create.

I work through symbols and take inspiration from reading spiritual, psychological, and health-related books, listening to thought-provoking lectures, exploring nature and metaphysics, conversing in insightful intellectual discussions, and observing human habits and history.

Since childhood I've drawn, sewn and crafted. During high school I took my first official art class that exposed me to painting and pottery, but it wasn’t until later in college that I seriously considered fine art as a profession.

After graduating high school and taking three years off to travel and work with several youth outreach and personal development organizations, I started attending Delta College in mid-Michigan. There I solidified my desire to pursue fine art full time. I graduated in 2011 with an Associate in Fine Arts and a Liberal Arts certification, graciously being honored with the Graduating Art Student of the Year Award.

Since then I've continued creating my own studio work, entering shows, exhibiting in public areas and galleries, painting commissions, and encouraging young and old to pursue and explore their own creativity.

I combine color & experience to bring forth connection & healing.

The "Melondy: Issues of Adolescence" series began a new chapter in my creative process: a rather therapeutic healing process. Melondy is a cartoonish whimsical character I created and started painting back in 2011.

For a several years I only associated her with the average teenage girl, taking "inspiration" from the pain I saw my high school girlfriends’ experience. Back then I did not want to read between the lines and see my own wounds that needed healing. I used to think I was very different from her, but slowly I allowed myself to realize that she embodied a lot of me.

A providential meeting with a friend in 2016 started a massive shift in my perspective of myself and my art, especially Melondy. On the drive home from that visit, Melody was born, and I realized that I too could trade in my negative prisoner's stripes for positive rainbows of color!

Since then my art has taken on new meaning as I continue to heal and endeavor to share beautiful healing energies with those who enjoy my work.

I form clay to connect & find joy with Earth, Nature & Community

I began experimenting with clay during the summer of 2018. It was a brand new medium to me and it did not come easy! I struggled to work with a substance so malleable and undefined. Originally I had no idea what to create with clay, it took me over a year to find my artist voice using this new medium.

Some have asked me when I started making mushroom art - I feel they found me and just emerged from my muddy hands. I don’t remember it being a conscience choice to create whimsical forest themed work, but it has been very therapeutic and has brought so much joy and smiles to others and myself.

Now that you know a bit about me...

I'd love to meet you! Please feel free to send me any thoughts, questions, or insights you may have via my contact page. I'd love to hear from you!