My story

I've always been driven by a strong desire for a creative outlet. My endeavors have ranged from drawing, painting, and photography to crafting with fabric, wood, thread, yarn, and flowers, as well as creating and cultivating gardens or altering landscaping designs. My first love, however, has always been painting.

Surrounded by Creatives — My parents were humble creatives raising us kids on a beef cattle farm, and I absorbed a diverse skillset from them. From varied arts and crafts, to woodworking and furniture refinishing, I was always hungry for more creative endeavors. Many of my relatives were into creative pursuits as well, so there was always some project in the works even at family gatherings. Growing up on a farm, involvement in the local 4-H club was a given. The skilled leaders there introduced me to an array of creative projects including landscaping, photography, and sewing.

Hijinks of a kid artist — Growing up, my relentless enthusiasm for making art often got me in trouble. My mother dragged my introverted little self to a community painting class, and under the tutelage of LaVonne Forsberg, it was there that I experienced the exhilaration of oil paints gliding across my brush, the bounce of a cotton duck canvas as I painted, and the fulfillment found in the creative process. I was also challenged to try diverse mediums and surfaces, thus I made paintings on unconventional surfaces like saw and sickle blades, milk cans, mailboxes, and furniture. I wish I still had a photograph of that John-Deere-themed mailbox I painted for a neighbor farmer; it was a classic. I even painted the side of a family’s delivery truck. I attempted almost anything that involved brushes and paint!

Off to University — I studied Art in college, much to my farming family's worry, and earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in 1995. My classes taught me both 2-D and 3-D techniques, pushing me beyond my love for traditional landscapes. I learned to use oils, acrylics, encaustic, and egg tempera, and I even made and prepared my own canvases, which helped me understand the science of art. Drawing with conte, charcoal, pencil, watercolor, and inks from real life enhanced my skills, improving my ability to see light, shadow, and colors in everything.

Fine Art Photography — A credit requirement put me in a black and white photography class. With a vintage Canon camera and film, I discovered painting with light and chemicals. This pushed me toward advanced photography courses focused on large-format cameras, darkroom printing, and various photo papers. I honed my darkroom skills and then broke the rules by changing chemicals and textures to create unique effects.

One summer, I explored Mexico, which deeply changed how I viewed photography. I saw the stark contrast between poverty and wealth in Mexico City, and these experiences became the highlight of two gallery shows during my senior year. My unconventional approach to photography involved displaying my work in ways that invited viewers to interact, like laying photographs on the floor, stitching them into quilts, pinning them on dark walls, or piling them up to challenge traditional presentation methods.

Learning the Business of Art — During the summers of my early college years, I worked at my childhood painting teacher's art store and gallery. There, I learned about the business side of a small-town art shop. LaVonne taught me how to mat and frame artwork, arrange gallery displays, and even design floral arrangements. I didn’t realize it then, but these experiences greatly influenced my life and confirmed my passion for creativity.

Portrait Photography - After college, I supported myself by working at two photography studios. At the first studio, I learned traditional portrait photography and lighting techniques using film and manual cameras. In the second, I gained skills in color printing, enlarging, and retouching. While I appreciated the creative work, I realized that being a portrait or wedding photographer didn't suit my shy personality.

Sacred Art — As my husband and I moved for education and careers, raising our family slowed my art pursuits. While he taught, ministered and served in the military, I trained in sacred art under skilled iconographers. I created several commissioned icons and later taught at a summer workshop for students titled “Beauty will Save the World,” incorporating sacred art training. After four years, the funding ended, but I realized that a supportive space for people of all ages can satisfy a deep desire for beauty through artistic creation.

Older and Wiser? - Most days, I may not feel wiser, yet here I am, returning to my beginnings. With a brush in hand, oil paints on my palette, surrounded by reference photos and sketches, my life's experiences and journeys dance in my thoughts. The energy invested in and by me over the years is now flowing into new paintings (with postings to follow). I wish to extend an invitation for you to delve into your own creativity by joining a studio class. It's an opportunity for creative individuals seeking dedicated time to don that apron and create something new. This journey began for me in a similar way, and it could be the start of a new journey for you as well.