I grew up in a very creative family, and throughout my childhood I was exposed to a wide variety of types of art. My mother has always been a very creative person, and that definitely inspired me growing up. I remember sitting at our dining room table with her while she worked on her tole paintings and going with her to my grandparents (who were also very crafty. My grandmother is a talented lifelong quilter, and my grandfather was a veteran carpenter who took pride in his craftsmanship) house to cut out wood blocks that would later become the crafts she would create and sell at craft shows.

Left: My grandmother and a quilt she made for me upon my high school graduation
Right: My grandfather working in his wood shop on some bird houses.

Beyond that one of my aunts is a watercolorist, and I was able to see her art studio and shop in Maine from a young age, able to envision what being a professional artist could look like.

Seeing all of these things while being surrounded by loving and encouraging friends and family gave me the encouragement I needed to pursue a career as an artist. I went to art school in Philadelphia, and got a degree in painting and drawing. I’ve worked since then to grow as an artist and move towards having this be my full time career.

The style of my art may be different than that of my relatives and earliest inspirations, but I think their value of history, tradition and the natural beauty of the everyday comes through.