For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be an artist and painter. I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan in the 1960’s, a historical period of unrest and social change. I was greatly influenced by the music of Motown, early beginnings of local punk rock and an era of renewed social awareness. And with the encouragement of my insightful grandfather, these interests merged with a desire to travel and see the world (thanks, Grandpa!).

As a young adult, I studied graphic design, fine art, art history, and illustration. I graduated with a BFA from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After college I was hired as an illustrator/designer by Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri where I worked for nearly 15 years. Restless and needing a change from corporate life, I left Hallmark to further explore my passion for painting.

My creative approach to painting is spontaneous and intuitive. I see my paintings as rural landscapes. I’m influenced by worn and weathered elements in the environment that reveal unusual colors, textures, and patterns. After applying multiple layers of paint, I build up textures by randomly scraping, erasing and making marks to reveal both color and depth. I focus on the contrast of dark to light, rough to smooth, and transparent to opaque. With accidental and intentional altering, the painting begins showing itself to me. I find this process to be exciting and rewarding because each experience brings its own unique and creative outcome.