I was surrounded by art early in life. My mom painted garden scenes in our home, her and my grandfather designed Disney murals for the walls of our childhood bedrooms, and my family loved watching animated shows and movies. I could hardly put my pencil down, and found myself imagining and drawing constantly. 

People became my favorite subject - whether they were invented from my imagination, or inspired by every day life. People are so complex and I love trying to capture the emotions and expressions that people don't always say out loud. I paint people - as well as animals, landscapes, and wildlife - with a focus on color, brushstrokes, values, and of course just the small whimsical details in between.

In my personal life, I live a very simple life. I love spending time with my husband and two dogs, and find constant inspiration from cooking, listening to music, and being outdoors in the sun. While I feel like a hobbit most days, it's the times when I connect with others - through art or philosophies of life - that really brings me a deep level of joy and satisfaction. I feel lucky that I get to connect with others through my art, and build a community from it.