Painting on the shore of Lake Tahoe, California. Good Times!
Creating mosaics and painting outdoors are my passions. I have been fortunate to pursue those interests during the last several years while living in some incredible locations and raising my 3 sons. My muse is the landscape and its flora and fauna.
I began seriously pursuing art after my 2nd son was born, while living in a small town in Montana. I have drawn or painted since I was a little girl, and studied wildlife biology and art in college. My work in the wildlife field enabled me to work in places where some only dream of working. Throughout the last 30 years, I have studied with many nationally-known watercolorists, pastelists, and mosaic artists. The knowledge and experience I’ve gained, a deep love of nature, and exploring many wild places over my life continue to influence my work. I am drawn to the landscape and its myriad of changing light and colors.
In 2003 my husband’s job transfer to the island of Kauai, Hawaii, led to many wonderful opportunities. New terrain, wildlife, and plants were in abundance year-round, and I was fortunate to be able to paint outdoors with other kindred spirits. The landscape was vibrant and colorful, and I began the dream job of teaching watercolor painting to tourists. We lived there for 10 years, and enjoyed every minute. But we were ready to get back to the mainland, and coming back did not disappoint. I was thrilled to see snowy mountains and experience “real” seasons again.
We moved back to the mainland in 2013, first landing in Fallon, Nevada, a small town east of Reno. It was there and in the surrounding areas of Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and the Sierras that I was drawn to get out and paint what I loved. While there, I took up a new art form—mosaic. I had always been drawn to the idea of piecing together glass and found objects. As a little girl, I loved to find pretty bits of glass, shells and other trinkets from our travels. Mosaic allows me to combine and repurpose glass scraps, pottery and other found objects. The idea of turning “chaos into order” makes me happy, even though it may take many, many hours!
In 2019, we moved back to our adopted home of Montana, where my husband and I had lived for many years before our move to Hawaii. Our old friends welcomed us with open arms, and I’m overjoyed to be back where I believe I belong— painting and creating in such beautiful surroundings.
My goal with my work is to create a “cause for pause”—a reason to stop and look at something more closely or trigger a pleasant memory. My hope is that people will find reason to slow down and appreciate the beauty around us, as well as my interpretations of it!
Enjoy!
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