A little bit more of my story…
A people-loving creative, I have always been drawn to faces and feelings. Raised by parents who led with their love for each other and their children, I was taught early that people matter, a focus that has fueled my direction in art and life.
Although funds were tight during childhood and the small Oregon coastal town where I was raised didn’t boast galleries or museums, my creative parents encouraged my artistic heart. Both musicians themselves, they understood my desire to create and encouraged me with art supplies, and even an easel in the laundry room -- my first studio. My early art pursuits were full of drawings and even a childhood art sale, but applying my work ethic to my desire for expression came later, along with shift to learning as an artist.
For a time in my early twenties, my artistic journey took the form of hairdressing with people again as the focus. Listening, helping, and seeing them while drawing out their beauty. The next stage of life was a deep dive into truly seeing people through two decades of overseas work and education. A degree in intercultural study laid the foundation for over fifteen years of humanitarian effort in the Philippines, where each encounter showed me anew the value of the human experience and each individual’s emotional journey. This time was full of hard work – heart work – and my art was put on hold for quite a few years. With prompting from my husband, Josh, and the Filipino art community in which I’d found inspiration and mentorship, I jumped back into art in 2016 and haven’t looked back since.
While workshops taught by local Filipino artists introduced me to new techniques and contributed to my style and voice, most influential was the guidance of Alfred Galvez. From him, I was introduced to the classical method of painting I employ today. In this style, a black and white rendition is laid down on canvas, followed by many transparent layers of color. A time-tested technique, it achieves a realistic, almost velvety glow. The detail and time involved in this method gives me a chance to get to know my subject, which further shapes my work. The smallest details and feelings are captured and coaxed out of the canvas, inviting viewers to share in each story.
I was honored to have my first exhibits alongside the Filipino art community while still living in the Philippines, and since moving back to America I’ve continued to exhibit in my home state of Oregon, where I now live with my family. Private commissions also give me the opportunity to get to know my subjects individually and bring comfort and joy to the recipients of my paintings.
Through portraiture, I strive to capture the beauty of each face and connect to the story behind it, truly seeing and celebrating every subject.