I love art. I love people. Teaching seemed a natural fit to combine these two loves.

As an artist, I enjoy exploring beauty, and taking the things in our lives that we overlook most, and showing the beauty they hold. We so easily become numb to the objects, places and even people that we are exposed to most. Driven by a world consumed by the next "new thing," we never seem to have the time to slow down, pause and look around us. So most of my pieces do just that. They are realistic pieces of art that are a small glimpses of a moment undiscovered.

Background

I was never truly exposed to art growing up. My exposure to art was limited mostly to what my parents knew. It wasn't until I reached high school, and took my first film photography class, that I understood the freedom in creation. Being in the darkroom, and developing my prints was for me, the most peaceful experience. I loved watching the image slowly come to fruition on the paper, and seeing how I could manipulate the image to bring about the effects I wanted. After four years of photography, and a new found love of the arts, I knew that art education was the direction I needed to head towards.

The first drawing and painting classes I took, were during my first years of university at NIU. I had a solid base for concept and composition due to all of my photography classes, but to be honest, I was completely terrified when I first put my pencil to sketchpad. I had no idea where to start, but thankfully, my teacher was amazing. She was understanding and helpful, but most of all she was kind. Having her support and confidence meant the world to me, and gave me the confidence I needed to move forward in my knowledge and technical skill.

It was a bumpy road at first. I had so much information to process, but once I learned the skills I needed, my passion soon followed. I became comfortable with my ability, and was able to begin experimenting with different techniques and mediums. All the while developing my own style and direction as an artist. Now, whenever I go to create anything (usually a messy process for me) I have that same feeling I did when I was back in the darkroom in high school, peaceful and completely relaxed. Total bliss.