My art expresses joy in the natural world; I want to closely observe living systems and to celebrate the uniqueness of individuals, subjects and processes through bold color relationships, visual emphasis and education, which leads to empowerment.
Unhurt
The heart is at the center of the circulation system, pumping blood around the body as the heart beats. This blood sends oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body, carrying away unwanted carbon dioxide and waste products. The loose splashes of color resemble a bloody wound as a clichéd expression of torment in love. The scale and texture of the subject show its power and strength along with the splashy display of injury.
Teaching Mission
Over the course of 20 years I have gained valuable experience in specialized art instruction to children and adults, and have developed art curriculums, camps and classes. I attended East Carolina University from 1995 to 2000 with a different career path ahead of me, and discovered that while my ideas and skills in visual art enhanced my previous course of study in Anthropology, these influenced a change of major to visual arts. While enrolled, I gained experience with woodworking, metalsmithing, drawing and ceramics and found that as soon as I learned a new skill, I wanted to share it with others. I transitioned to Art Education from that moment. After a break, I returned to college in order to complete an Art Education degree with a renewed focus on painting and drawing, and I graduated in 2008 Summa Cum Laude, excited about working with students to nurture and share their artistic visions and voices as well as giving them the fundamental tools to build confidence and get results they wanted with their work. I want to impart how it is important to discover ways we can use our art as a platform for bringing awareness to things that are important to us, to social justice and collective change. I am enthusiastic about witnessing firsthand the connection between environmental and experiential education, the visual and natural arts, and the rich exchange of ideas that occur between students and teachers.