Artist's Statement

The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.

-Neil Gaiman

I am an artist that loves to explore color and texture through painting, weaving, fiber art, collage and mixed media. For me, every new project is a journey of experimentation that begins with, “I wonder….”, and is usually sparked by a memory, idea or emotion. I think a successful piece of art can momentarily quiet the mind of the artist or the viewer and transport us somewhere else. It can lift up forgotten memories and grant us a moment of peace and grace in an otherwise visually overstimulating world.

Each piece I create is unique and reflects my experiences, relationships, and connection to the world around me. To honor that uniqueness, I never create prints or exact replicas of my work. This offers my collectors a truly one-of-a-kind piece of art.

I am a member of Kansas Art Guild, Wichita Weavers Spinners & Dyers Guild and a Derby Arts Council Board member. I love to encourage everyone to make art without judgement and promote the arts in our communities. I recently created two Community Art Projects in partnership with the City of Derby and Derby Arts Council.

One was a colorful, handwoven wall-hanging tapestry. The other was an installation piece called Aspire and Ascend in which 300 paper airplanes were created by adults and children attending October Third Thursday with dreams and hopes written inside each plane. The paper airplanes were then suspended in the Derby Public Library as an art installation supporting National Aviation Month.

When I am not working in my studio, I love to teach others how to create art. At Hubbard Art Center in Derby, I teach Intro to Acrylic Painting, Visual Storytelling, Barn Quilts and Weaving classes. I also enjoy teaching monthly workshops at the Derby Senior Center.