Hey there!

I am a full-time artist living in Little Rock, Arkansas with my husband and our dog, Maggie. We have two grown children, a son and a daughter, who visit as often as their schedules allow. (Empty nesting is a good thing!)

I paint mostly with acrylics and always with the intent of either illustrating the beauty surrounding us in our everyday lives or expressing a feeling/emotion that words fail to do justice.

I’m an Enneagram 4, so that means I’m all about feelings and sharing empathetically with others. This mindset or better yet, “heartset,” is evident in my art whether it’s realistic or abstract.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary oliver

Make art. Make friends. Love family. Grow plants. Dance a little.

  • The Garden

    When I’m not painting in my studio, I can often be found digging in the dirt in this garden. My studio window overlooks this peaceful space, where I can plant, weed, water, and dream in living color - literally! It’s amazing how many shades of purple can be incorporated into a landscape!

  • The Studio

    My home studio is small, but it has a large window with northern light that looks out over our back garden. Just outside the back door is a patio where I end most painting sessions by “taking my painting to the Wall” for critique.

    This patio is also where I set up my easel for some painting outdoors when the weather is mild.

  • Studio Companion

    Meet Maggie - my sidekick, my disrupter, and my mostly-loyal companion!

    If I’m painting in the studio, you can bet that she will be in the vicinity, usually reminding me that it’s time to give her a treat.

I create art because I must.
I create art because art creates community.
I create art because ordinary becomes extraordinary.
I create art because I want to understand and be understood.
I create art because fleeting moments become timeless on the canvas.
I create art because a paintbrush is the tool that fits most comfortably in my hand.
I create art because painting the gaze of an animal indeed opens the windows to the soul.
I create art because truths are revealed through lines, shapes, colors, and textures.
I create art because a painting will speak when words alone are inadequate.
I create art because I want to look closely and appreciate deeply.
I create art because the world can always use more purple.
I create art because it is my link to Divine Creativity.
I create art because I want to leave my mark.
I create art because I must.

 

  • I can’t remember a time when I didn’t think of myself as an artist. I grew up in Arkansas in a family that always supported my every artistic endeavor. It’s only as an adult that I truly realized what a gift it is to have parents who never squelched my artistic dreams.


    I attended Hendrix College, a small liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities with an Art emphasis. Hendrix provided an idyllic college experience for me; I gained a valuable education and even more valuable lifelong friendships. And let me not forget that it’s where I met my husband! Next, I went on to pursue an Associate Degree in Interior Design at the Harrington Institute of Design in Chicago. My goal was to combine my fine arts education with a creative career in commercial interior design. While at Harrington, I interned at the architectural firm, Perkins + Will and continued working as a designer in their interiors department after graduation. The experience of working on large scale projects, with a team of architects, engineers, and designers, prepared me for teamwork opportunities in later years and also gave me the courage needed to coral a preschool classroom of 3-year-olds. That’s another story. :)


    After returning home to Arkansas, I took a step back from my design career and instead plugged myself into whatever school or extracurricular activity my children were involved in, usually bringing my art supplies with me. The skills section on my resume from these years would include accomplishments such as overseeing the art projects for all children in the silent auction at my daughter’s elementary school, painting a mural on the music room walls of our church preschool, landscaping the grounds of an elementary school, scheduling 80 high school office volunteers on a weekly basis, etc. In the midst of all these activities, I continued to paint and draw and sell my work at local art fairs and shows.


    When my daughter got her driver’s license and car keys at the age of 16, I also got the keys to freedom in my schedule! That’s when I returned to pursuing my art on a full-time basis and have been expanding my artistic career ever since. I have been a managing partner and gallery artist at the Art Group Gallery in Little Rock since 2017 and have continued to grow my own studio practice along the way.


    I have big “artist dreams” and a willingness to work hard at realizing them. Stay tuned - I appreciate all good vibes and encouragement coming my way!

Shop My Artwork