About the Artist
I am a native and lifelong Californian, currently living and creating in the Coachella Valley. My path as an artist truly began in 1995 when I stepped into a drawing class at the College of Marin. What started as a series of classes blossomed into a lifelong pursuit of capturing the world through the soft, vibrant lens of pastels.
In my work, I strive for more than just a visual likeness. Whether I am painting a still life or an animal portrait, my goal is to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. Every piece I create has its own story, evolving from a mix of intuition and instinct. I like to say that my compositions are born in my mind and nurtured in my heart before I ever touch the surface to explore the play of light, color, and texture.
Animals have always been a central part of my life and my art. I was first drawn to the gentle faces of the sheep in the pastures near my home, but my interest grew much deeper over time. Having spent years in the arena of competitive riding—competing in Western Pleasure, Trail, Saddlebred, and Hackney Pony divisions—I have a profound respect for the relationship between animals and their caretakers. That connection is a constant source of inspiration for me.
Lately, I’ve found myself drawn to the tactile world of paper-mâché and needle felting. Moving into these mediums felt like a completely natural extension of my artistic voice. It allows me to take the same focus on detail and texture that I use in my pastels and translate it into a new, physical dimension. While my needle felting remains two-dimensional, the process of layering wool fibers allows me to "paint" with literal texture, creating a rich, sculptural surface that invites the viewer to experience the subject through both sight and a sense of touch.
Over the years, I’ve been honored to receive recognition for my work, including:
Master Pastellist: Being awarded this status by the Pastel Society of America in NYC back in 2002.
Signature Memberships: I am a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast, the Society of Western Artists, and the Marin Society of Artists.
Awards & Publications: I’ve been fortunate to win numerous awards in national and international exhibitions and have had my work featured in The Pastel Journal, Artists Magazine, and Pure Color: The Best of Pastel.
Today, my paintings live in private and corporate collections across the United States, and I continue to find joy in every new story I get to tell through my art.
