My artistic journey has been varied and a bit random. As a young girl, I grew an interest in taking photos but did not consider myself as having artistic ability and never had art classes beyond early grade school. My interest in photography waxed and waned over the years but in 1999 I decided to make the switch to digital and began mastering Photoshop. But outside of photogrpahy, I never ventured into any other art forms.

Around the time I was 35, on a whim, I decided to try to draw an image I saw on a piece of junk mail of water being poured into a hand. The difference was that this time I wasn't going to tell myself "I can't."  To my amazement, I did it! It was at that moment I realized I had robbed myself of a joy in life by believing I couldn't do something despite having never really tried. So began an artistic journey to discover what art forms were out there and what I enjoyed.  I tried, graphite, acrylic, oil and many others until I stumbled onto encaustics.  A few youtube videos later, I was in love and so began my relationship with encaustics.

In the many years since, I've learned to have artistic grace for myself.  I've learned to be able to just enjoy creating while not letting the need for a positive opinion of the results be a requirement for that joy. I am free to play.

I tend to alternate between encaustics and photography. They are both joys to me, each in their own way. Encuastics forces a conversation with a piece in process. It is both an execution of the artist's vision while also requiring a response to the work's chosen direction. Landscape photography is an act of worship to me. God paints the landscape in breathtaking light and in that moment, I am allowed the honor of showing others the beautiful character of God that I see in His creation. In both cases, there is an element of capturing a beauty that it is outisde of my control and that to me is a moment of communion with the Divine.

My career has been quite varied.  I graduated in 1995 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  I worked as a Software Engineer for a decade before moving into web development and graphic design.  Though I am now retired, I still love programming because it nourishes my technical hunger. It is those photoshop skills learned while developing my photography that have allowed me to switch between engineering and graphic design work and was also the first hint of my interest in artistic creativity.

I'm honored by your interest and I hope you find something in my work that brings your heart joy.