I believe there is great therapeutic value in the creative process. Doing art has helped me let go, gain confidence and learn to work through my own frustrations. Now I don’t give up as easily. I might change direction, put something on pause or just keep reworking until I get the result I was looking for. It's a journey of learning more about myself and what I can do. 

 

Growing up, my sisters and I were given many opportunities to engage in creative activities. Music, dance, ceramics, drawing and painting… my mother was a very creative individual herself. As I got older I began to believe that I did not possess artistic talent. My perfectionistic tendencies were very strong and I couldn’t make “perfect” art. I would make mistakes, get frustrated and give up. So I completely let go of doing art. Just before turning 50, I found myself craving a creative outlet and I began intentionally bringing art back into my life. I took a class here and there and started playing around with collage. I really just wanted to make personal gifts for family and friends. But before I knew it, what started as a little hobby became a passion. I truly believe that art has brought balance to my life.

 

I am drawn to to the layering and textures that you find in mixed media. I love getting up close to a piece of art and discovering words and images tucked in the layers. Seeing text and numbers out of context. I enjoy playing with color - color is what often draws me to other art pieces. Additionally, I like to experiment and play around with new techniques, materials and styles. Making art is a continual learning process - a chance to indulge my curiosity... how is something done? How I might I do it? What if I...?

 

I also love crows. They are intelligent, curious and sassy. They symbolize many things including transformation, change, wisdom and adaptability. And so they often appear in my work. ​​