A little bit about me...

I am lucky to have lived my entire life in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. After graduating from college, I went on to work with one of my other loves, books. I started out in a bookstore, and then moved on to working in libraries. During this time, I took an occasional art class in my free time. When in 2007, I had my first child, I decided to stay home and raise my family, while pursuing my art on the side.

I began painting with oils, and then moved on to watercolor, discovering a love for botanical art. Colored pencils are a wonderful medium for this detailed genre, often used in combination with watercolor. However, being a lover of nature, I have also always felt drawn to landscapes, especially the colorful vision of the impressionists. When I discovered the medium of pastel, it was with a feeling that this was what I had been searching for. The immediacy of the application, the vibrancy of the colors and the texture of the pastels themselves, all made it the perfect medium for me. I am a member of the Northwest Pastel Society and the Pastel Society of the West Coast. Currently, I work primarily in pastels, but still switch back and forth with the occasional colored pencil or watercolor piece, as I find that the contrast between the two is very enjoyable for me. I am constantly inspired by nature, not just for it's beauty, but also for the peace that it can provide. Nature, and a love of travel, are the primary sources for my ideas and motivation for my paintings.

I live in the Willamette Valley of Oregon with my husband, my two beautiful children, and two Silken Windhound dogs. I feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful life, and hope that this feeling comes through in my paintings.