Bio
I grew up in Southern California, loved to draw my entire childhood, and ultimately studied fine art and communications in college. An early influence in my life led me to a career in advertising and design. My father was a design engineer for the space industry, and back in the day had a drafting table at home that he worked on. For some reason I found that table and his drafting tools extremely intriguing and longed to work at such a table someday.
In college when I took an advertising class and got to actually work at a drafting table, I fell in love with graphic design. I have worked as a graphic designer for the last 35+ years, partially in California, and then for the last 30 years in Thurston County, WA. I co-owned a graphic design studio in Lacey and Tumwater and the sense of design I developed over the years definitely influences my painting today.
I started painting in acrylics during the pandemic as a creative outlet but also because I have always loved art. I have practiced a variety of styles and found that abstract painting/multi media is the most fulfilling for me. Semi- retired now from design work, I paint in my studio at home in Lacey, WA and thoroughly enjoy the local art scene and the community of amazing artists.
Artist Statement
The pandemic made creating art much more important in my life. The world seemed so chaotic and I wanted to come back to some level of peace, understanding, and love.
I found abstract painting was the best way to break out of my structured past as a graphic designer; a journey to the unknown. I found forgiveness in painting with acrylics and also second chances. It has all correlated with my personal life, and has offered me a new way to express my feelings.
I embed a message in each of my paintings to myself and whoever views it. The communication is either written clearly on the canvas or hidden beneath layers of paint, sometimes using type I have set and printed for the piece. The message is almost always uplifting, and hopefully visually interesting to the viewer as well. This is a journey I hope to travel for the rest of my life, always willing to learn and take the next step.
