Through art, I’m determined to acknowledge life's trials while hanging onto an intentional focus on its positives. Here are some stories about how I try to live in this mindset.

Take Only Memories, Leave Behind Art

It's autumn 2022, and I’m eating dinner at a small restaurant near my weekly dance venue. This business uses disposable utensil covers, stamped (though rather crudely) with an image of flowers in a glass jar. I pull out an art pen and go about expanding on the original concept. A mere doodle to my mind, and one I intend to discard. But instead, my partner places it atop our paid bill as we exit. Realizing I’d left my water bottle behind, I re-enter moments later to find the owner himself examining my doodle with a broad smile on his face. That single interaction inspired a passion project to gift my doodles to strangers, and I’ve since left over 400 illustrations as spontaneous gifts in a variety of establishments, across ten states.

I overhear way too many negative comments in public, particularly by people criticizing those trying to serve them. I can’t prevent that. But, I’ve found I can bring a moment of unexpected affirmation to those on the receiving end. I want my leave-behind art to reassure them: they are seen, appreciated, and entirely deserving of respect.

Healing of Herons

My love of ornithology goes back to great blue herons. The river where I grew up was for many years badly polluted. So, I was a teenager before some much-needed cleanup efforts afforded me my first great blue heron encounter. My sister nearly crashed the family car in her excitement when first we spotted it. Then she taught me how to approach so very quietly for a closer look. When, as adults, we both left unhealthy relationships, we moved in together near that self-same river, and each evening delighted to watch dozens of herons fly overhead as the restoration of our river continued.

Memorial Art

The majority of my professional work has been memorial portraiture, both of people and pets. It’s a passion born of empathy for irreparable loss and my love of connecting with people.  I was forced to confront my own mortality much younger than most —the result of serious health issues.  My mother both modeled and taught me a growth mindset grounded in honest conversation around death: genuine celebration of loved ones but without sugar-coating the memories of those who have passed.  This is the core intent of my every memorial portrait, each created to provide my clients a safe space for communicating those deep and complex emotions which death evokes, centered in the memories they hold most dear.