About Me

Hello. Glad you are here! Let me introduce myself:

I am an artist based in Lansing, Michigan, living with my fiancée, five-year-old son, two Golden Retrievers (Graham & Remy), and a cat (Peaches). I was born and raised in Muskegon, MI. Exposed to art at a very young age with immense support from my parents, I constantly used art as a means of expression, and distraction. I received many awards at Reeths-Puffer High School, including the opportunity to design and participate in painting a 500 square foot mural. Go Rockets!

After high school, I attended Northern Michigan University to pursue art with a focus on painting and photography. After two years, due to my father's failing health, I moved closer to home. I studied photography for a brief time at Grand Valley State University. With mounting student loans and a loss of direction, I switched gears and followed my love of science and animals, graduating with an associate's degree in Veterinary Technology from Baker College of Muskegon in 2011. Throughout school, art was a study tool. Notebooks were filled with scientific sketches and drawings.

While working as a full time Licensed Veterinary Technician, the emotional toll of secondary trauma caught up with me. This, combined with poor coping skills, led to alcoholism. The ability to draw, paint and dream was gone. Life was on hold and I was sinking. A bit unwillingly, I was taken in by a wonderful recovery community. in 2018, with tremendous support and patience at home, work, and a new-found recovery family, hope and dreams were once again a possibility. This struggle, although hard, remains a foundation for my life now. I'm grateful for these lessons as I continue to grow, and very grateful for the people who continued to support (without enabling) me while I had no love to share.

Taking a chance on a change in work early in recovery, landed me in the perfect place to continue healing. Slowly, I started to draw again. In 2022, I was offered the opportunity to dabble in medical illustration, illustrating the canine eye for a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology. This project was the spark that rekindled my passion for art. My work suddenly seemed to have a element I couldn't achieve before. An acceptance of myself seemed to lead to an appreciation of my own art, and a willingness to share with others.

I see life in a whole new way, with immense appreciation and empathy. This new-found gratitude comes through in my work as I express myself mainly through painting and illustration. A creative of many talents (and a bit of ADHD), I am always experimenting with different media. Animals and nature are favorite subjects, especially capturing the nuances in personalities of companion animals. My work intends to bring out the simple joys in my subjects as a constant reminder to celebrate the beauty around us, no matter how small.

Thank you for visiting!