About the Artist

On Becoming One's Authentic Self

Taking the time to create something just for yourself is one of the most radical and liberating acts we can do as individuals, and especially as women. Taking the time to create my own art has been a big part of reclaiming my identity and setting myself free from society's expectations. But it wasn't always so.

I used to be a people-pleaser. I did what my parents asked. I did what society expected me to do. For decades, I sacrificed my own wants and needs to make those around me more comfortable. And I know I'm not alone in this.

As women, we are conditioned to make our needs small, to put others first, and to make extraordinary sacrifices for our families, even if following our hearts might only rock the proverbial boat without overturning it. But it comes at a tremendous personal cost. When we do this–when we put ourselves last every time, we lose our confidence, we dull our spark, and we deny the very thing that we need most; agency over our own lives.

When I was in elementary school, my parents divorced, so I spent my formative years between a small rural town in Iowa and a small rural town in Texas. Looking back, so much of my childhood was wild, carefree, and idyllic. I had a close group of friends, and my now partner, Dan, was a part of that circle (yes, we found each other years later in life, and I'm so glad we did). I spent much of my childhood riding horses and dirt bikes, catching frogs, and exploring everything rural landscapes had to offer. I loved the soulfulness of a horse's eyes. It's like they see everything. My grandmother was a significant influence in my early life, teaching me how to sew and bake and raise baby chicks. Sundays after church were spent on a dairy farm. While the adults drank tea, I often ran out into the backyard to draw whatever struck my fancy.

When I was small, I had a Polaroid camera, and that's when I first discovered my love of photography. We set up a darkroom in the basement, and I went to work photographing whatever caught my eye. I was the school photographer, yearbook editor, and stringer for the Associated Press in SouthWest Iowa by high school. I remember my photography teacher telling me, "You're going to be the next Ansel Adams."

I wanted to study art in college, but my parents had other ideas. In Iowa in the 1980s, art and the life of an actual artist seemed so inaccessible to me. So I delayed my dreams and instead went to law school. During that time, I fell in love and moved to Chicago. Eventually, we moved to Kansas City and had a family. I clerked for a judge and had my first child. But something wasn't right. Yes, my professional choices all looked like the "right things to do" on paper, but my soul was unhappy. Being a lawyer was hard on me, emotionally. I was good at it, but it wasn't my calling.

Eventually, we moved to Seattle via Microsoft. I finally took an art class and felt a little crack in the bubble of my world. This was what I wanted. The years went by. I had and raised my three kids, worked, and whenever I had free time, I turned to art.

By the time I turned fifty, I felt a strong pull toward something undefined. I was in Scotland when the little voice in the back of my mind finally got my attention; "You're not living the life you want to live." I didn't know exactly how to change things, but I knew for sure that art would be a more significant part of my life from now on. I knew I needed to ask myself how I wanted to live and who I wanted to be, and this time, I listened to myself for the answer instead of those around me.

I spent the next few years making the challenging changes in my life that had been on the back burner for so long. I started taking art classes. I began painting like I never had before. I started building a life in a new home with plenty of room for art and, gardening, chickens. It was tough, but  I'm glad I chose myself and listened to that voice inside.

To date, my work has been in shows and galleries. I am teaching from my home studio, and I can share my passion for art with those around me. I can, at last, say I am living my truth. I am happy, and my days are filled with more joy and possibilities than high school could have ever imagined. I am learning, every day, to follow my truth. It is a path that I hope to inspire my students with the hopes it will change their lives. I know it changed mine.

Juried Art Shows: 

Best of the Northwest, November, 2024

Guest Artist, Parklane Gallery, October and November, 2024

Journey: Women Painters of Washington, Fogue Studios and Gallery, May & June, 2024

American Women Artist, Online Juried Show, September 2023

Solo Show, April 2023, Red Sky Gallery

Winter Small Works Show, Parkland Gallery, Winter 2022

Crows and Ravens, Red Sky Gallery, Fall 2022

The Great Annual NW Art Exhibition, Matzke Fine Art Gallery, Fall 2022

Intersections, Larson Gallery, Yakima, Fall 2022

Backyards and Backroads, Women Painters Washington Gallery, Summer 2022

Hello Summer, Gallery North Edmonds WA, Summer 2022

Woodinville Arts Alliance Studio Tour, Spring, 2022

Vancouver International Art Show, Spring, 2022

Fresh Paint, Summer 2021 Port of Everett

Puget Sound Group's NW Art Exhibit, Parkland Gallery, Fall, 2021

Woodinville Arts Alliance, Molbak's, August 2021

National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society, Member Online Show, 2021

Best of Gage, Narrative, Online Art Show, 2020

Moses Lake Museum Art Center, January 2020

Fusion Art, Artists Spotlight Group Exhibit, Artize Gallery, February 2020

Fusion Art, Artist Spotlight Solo Exhibit, November 2019

Art of the Heartland, Mena Art Gallery, October 2019

National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society, Best of America Juried Art Show, 2019

Bemis Arts Spring Juried Show, 2018

Tsuga Summer Show, 2018, Third Place, 2019

Celebrate Woodinville Juried Art Show, 2018, 2019

Edmonds Art Juried Show, 2008, 2019

Commission work: Commissions are a large part of my work. Find more information HERE.

Corporate Collections: 

Shook, Hardy, Bacon at One Columbia Tower

Bunnell Wine Cellars, Woodinville, WA

Galleries and other exhibitions:

Red Sky Gallery, Lake Forest Park, WA

Bunnell Wine Cellars, Woodinville, WA - Permanent gallery space and paintings featured on Artist Series Wines

Woodinville Art Studio Tour, 2022, 2021, 2019

Awards received and publications:

Bold Brush Painting Competition, Honorable Mention, October 2022

Curators' Award, Parkland Gallery Winter Small Works Show, 2022

People's Choice Award, Woodinville Arts Alliance Fall Juried Show, 2022

Featured Artist, Ravens and Crows, Red Sky Gallery, Fall 2022

American Art Collector Magazine, Artist of the Pacific Northwest, August 2021

Where We Bloom, Publication, 2021

American Art Collector Magazine, Art of the Horse, 2020

BoldBrush Painting Competition, Honorable Mention, 2020

Tsuga Summer Show, Third Place, 2019

Mt. Si Artist Guild Small Works Show, 2019, Second Place

Celebrate Woodinville Juried Art Show, Second Place, 2019

Professional Affiliations:

Women Painters of Washington since 2022

American Woman Artist, Associate Member since 2019

Oil Painters of America, Juried Member since 2018

Puget Sound Artist Group, Juried Member since 2019 - 

American Impressionist Society, Member since 2018