From an early age, I loved art- using brightly colored crayons and frequently entering children's poster contests- but my creative imagination was not fully awakened until ten years ago.  I am drawn to nature and the simple beauty surrounding us; from the sweet scent of a honeysuckle vine in bloom, to the puffy clouds in the sky or warm hugs and a smile.  My paintings allow the viewer to escape the hectic fast-paced world, offering an experience, a mood, a feeling or sense of place,

I grew up in Columbia, South Carolina but have always enjoyed visits to the Lowcountry coast where I now reside full time.  A career in telecommunications brought me to the Charleston area in 2003, exposing me to the elegant flowers, quiet lowcountry marsh and colorful vistas I love to paint.  Oil is my preferred medium because of its vibrant and exciting intensity.

While painting, I enter a timeless zone of connection with my subject and I seek to capture beauty, color and texture in my brushstrokes.  When considering a subject, I start by asking myself why I want to paint it and what I want the viewer to feel when the work is complete.  I keep the answers to those questions in mind while I'm painting to remain focused on what each piece should convey.

I have taken instruction with nationally and internationally known artists such as Daniel Keys, Michelle Dunaway and Kyle Stuckey.  I have also taken weekly instruction from Charleston area artists such as Elizabeth Bronson, Joyce Hall and Laurie Meyer.  I  love being an artist because I am constantly learning and evolving which is exciting and motivating.  While I agree it can be intimidating to stand in front of a blank canvas, it is also thrilling and challenging at the same time, and I love the process of working through a painting to watch it come alive!