Artist

The seasons of my life have provided me continuously with work. Most of my "recent adulthood" had me working as a chef for nearly a decade. I aligned myself with so many different industries since I stepped into the working world as a young adult. Since stepping away from the kitchens, I have added titles of author, entrepreneur, a very part time officiant, volunteer, founder of a little midwestern publishing outfit- often wearing several of these hats simultaneously and with a day job. That was always the way though; I am no stranger to working 3 jobs at once- now the other roles are just different. I have a 'day job'; I am still an officiant. And yet,I always had a corner of my home dedicated to my artist self. Creating in fits and spurts over the years has still been creating but it has not been fulfilling to the depths of my soul. I've never really let the reins out. It has been much more important and pressing that I do so.

 

These days, I now present myself fully as an artist.

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As an artist, I’ve wanted to make art more accessible to people. So much resistance to creation comes from this feeling of ‘not being good enough’ or just the silly thought of ‘I’m not an artist’ - but what many do not grasp, that beyond any learned skill, art is an inspired act. ART lies with the courage to act. The best art comes from a surge of an idea, a burst of inspiration and the immediate execution of that idea. The art in between those ideas - the lackluster or seemingly uninspired art is stuff that comes out in between the inspired thoughts turned into something tangible. Sometimes it’s playing with a skill or technique, in search of mastery or at a minimum, understanding. Or it’s learning a new medium. Sometimes it’s just an experiment. And much like a clog to a pipe, all that stuff also needs to come out for things to flow freely.

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I love making art with the public and encouraging people to just pick up a brush (pen / pencil / crayon / marker / whatever -) and just place colors or lines down in a way they feel internally guided.

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Art is very personal; it is a diary of emotion that comes from the depth of our humanity. Art requires bravery to express. It takes courage to be brave, to make art; making art requires one to dip into the inner well of self.  Connecting people to themselves and in turn, one another is quite a joy in life, especially when those connections turn into amazing friendships, fruitful collaborations and establishments of peace and harmony among the community at large. 

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Back in 2022, I created this public art project called Emotional Damage, where participants willingly stepped into the depths of themselves, exploring the intricate internal landscape of their emotions within the safety of our co-created container of a private class. Through the mediums of painting and writing I encourage participants to engage with the therapeutic processes of healing.

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​To get here- to the point of encouraging others and healing- I started many years ago, with a pile of ethically sourced bones and a willingness to show up. The bones, combined with a host of wild ideas, led to dipping my first toe into the waters of public art. I brought the bones to the public, with paints and encouraged people to just paint. Put paint on the bones in any way you wish. Turning the bones into the giant frame I wanted didn’t quite turn out the way I’d hoped; turns out resin is expensive and I was a broke single mom. I did my best at the time, no regrets.​

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My work of late has been bright and colorful, full of repetitive shapes, tested across various size and mediums. The work has also been intangible. Being a presence that is required for such a space of letting go, and healing is unseen, yet deeply energetically felt. It comes through as we set the space and create the container for this incredibly personal journey of navigating hard spaces through public collaboration for Emotional Damage. 

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Creating art for long term public display is something I have continued to pursue. To date, I have participated in a few different projects that are on display long term, indefinitely or are in use by the public. My recent contribution to Artful Transformation (2025) is on display indefinitely in Whitewater, WI. You can find my work for Vibrant Hydrant in Monona, WI on display until 2032. And one of the most interactive- a cat cut-out board for Redner’s Rescued Cat Figurine Mewseum- is on display whenever they are open & at public events.