Shown Above: Pages from a few of my earliest sketchbooks

I have been drawing ever since I can remember. My earliest sketchbook is from 5th or 6th grade, so I guess I started really practicing and analyzing my art when I was around 11 or 12. High school was the most transformative time of my young life though, and a large part of that was due to the art teachers I had. They introduced me to life drawing, a variety of painting styles and mediums, sculpture, critical thinking in regards to art, and really paved the way for me to pursue my passion.

Shown Above: This painting was one of the first paintings I had in a school art show. I painted it using a photo from a magazine as a reference.

Shown Above: This painting was inspired by a summer trip to my aunt and uncle's house on Monhegan Island in Maine and was the first time I really felt proud of a painting I had created.

The summer between 10th and 11th grade I took part in the Governor's Institute of the Art at Castleton State College where we did drawing from live models and studied all sorts of art forms, from sculpture, dance, theater and music. I knew from that summer that I was meant to follow my dream of becoming an artist.

A self portrait I completed during the Governor's Institute of Vermont in 2000.

This still life was completed at the Pre-College program at Maine College of Art in 2001.

During senior year of high school I took an independent art period both semesters. I tried applying what I learned the previous year to experiment and create what became my portfolio for college.

This drawing was part of my portfolio that I used to get into college.

My art has changed over the years, but I have always had a strong interest in color and representational painting, drawing inspiration from classic painters like John Singer Sargent, Vermeer, and the Hudson River School. My experiences through high school led me to take the path I did, and I am grateful for all of the opportunities I had to explore my creativity.