ARTIST STATEMENT:

Creating is when I feel most connected to myself and the world around me. From drawing people as a little girl to taking care of them as a nurse, the human experience has always been a common thread in my work. Painting weddings is where my lifelong passion for art & people finally come together.

My goal as an Impressionist is to capture the feeling of the day. I don’t directly copy a reference photo, but rather combine photos and moments to paint a my impression. I prioritize elements like composition, movement & lighting over the exact reality. I ask myself, “If this were my wedding, how would I remember it?“ Above all, I strive to create a beautiful painting that you will love for years to come, something that stands on it’s own as a work of fine art.

My understanding of form, composition and visual storytelling was refined at Kansas City Art Institute, where I obtained my BFA in Ceramics. My process continues to be sculptural regardless of the medium, adding and subtracting until the piece takes shape. The visual result is a soft build up of layers balanced by saturated colors. Gold leaf is used in many of my paintings, mainly because it reflects light in a way that paint alone cannot. It adds an ethereal quality that taps into the spiritual connection I feel when creating.

My mom taught me to draw and paint when I was very young, and making art has been a source of joy and peace for as long as I can remember. I continue to sign my work with my maiden name because my artistic identity feels so strongly rooted in those early years. I may not have officially painted my first wedding until 2024, but in many ways, everything I create today traces back to those first lessons at the kitchen table.