Painting is a stepping off point into my imagination. Putting brush to paper using both watercolors and acrylics is a meditation for me - a way to center my thoughts and feelings. Animals of all shapes and sizes have always been my passion and each piece begins with a deep admiration of the unique beauty and character of the creature I am painting. Other sources of inspiration include an animal's mythological or spiritual role in different tribal societies; the relationship between form, color and line as they relate to my subject; a creature's role in the larger ecosystem; and a desire to experiment with different compositional elements. My primary goal with each piece is to capture the unique spirit and personality of an animal using a combination of color, line, patterns, symbols and texture. My finished pieces reflect my own interpretations of cultural and artistic styles that inspire me.

My work has evolved over time as my admiration of different artists and cultures has grown and changed. I have long admired the work of John Nieto, David Hockney, Henri Matisse, Tom Killion, David Lance Goines and master Hopi Kachina carver Stetson Honyumptewa. My love of animals and marine life began when I lived near Monterey Bay as a child and has grown after spending time in Santa Fe, New Mexico and the Hawaiian Islands. Each of these places gave me a longstanding respect for the roles of animals in different indigenous societies. I began my career as a graphic designer and my work still reflects the vivid, iconographic style I developed in this profession. I am comfortable using Procreate on the iPad to play with color and compositional elements before implementing them in a painting. However, my best work often emerges organically in the midst of the physical act of painting when I find my subject guiding my thoughts and decisions. My style is always evolving as I discover new techniques, media, and sources of inspiration. In doing so, I hope my work will continue to reveal my unique interpretations of the natural world.

Stanford University
Bachelor of Arts, 1995

Stanford University

Master of Arts, 1996