It was the summer of 2004. I was bored at work. I brought in some painting materials with the intention of creating something decorative for my office. I picked up a pen and started drawing a tree. I found myself unable to stop. I was at work. I'm sure the phone was ringing and people were wanting things from me but I was on a roll. What you're seeing here at the left is the first attempt. It's called "The Tree of Life".

I was suprised and somewhat amused that I could make a tree come to life on canvas board.

So I tried another one.

This one is called "Sisters" and it was an exercise in line and color. I like the way they are conjoined by energetic reds.

I found myself painting furiously at all hours of the day and night. I couldn't stop. It was an outlet that helped me "deal" with my crazy life. I had gone to theater school and been an actor up until I moved to Seattle. I had mostly let the theater world go...and hence, with that, a creative outlet to make me feel alive.

And now I was painting up a storm.

So I tried my hand at subject matter in the abstract.

Here we have "Bottles".

I was pleased with this one but knew I had to get back to what I crave...connection with the natural world...in particular...trees and ocean landscape.

With that...I whipped out the following work:

This piece at left is one of my proudest moments as a new artist. It is called, "Three Trees" and it depicts a scene

from an amazing backpacking trip I took into the Carmanah Valley on the west coast of Vancouver Island. I have some very vivid memories of my hikes in that wonderful area. The colors are like no other. The trees are the biggest old growth I've ever experienced.

With "Three Trees", I feel I turned a corner creatively. I knew I was onto something really significant for me as an artist. Over the next year, I found myself aiming for participation in my first artwalk.

Welcome...

Bear with me people. This could be volatile. Me, in control and posting to the world-wide-web...(insert evil laugh here). But, after some consideration, I am finding myself interested in not only publishing my work and commenting on it, but sharing my thoughts about art and life in general. I am truly a narcissist. ACK.

So, with that, welcome. Here we go...

The most recent news I have to share is that I was selected to participate in the 2008 Art of Dining Event on April 17th. Three of my newest paintings were selected to be auctioned off as a triptych at an evening that paired Pacific Northwest female chefs and artists. All funds received supported the Women's Funding Alliance based here in Seattle. The Women's Funding Alliance helps strengthen communities throughout the region by investing in organizations that support women and girls. I am very honored to have been selected for this event- the paintings in question are part of a series I am working on called "Elemental". The event took the first three of the series- "Earth", "Water" and "Fire". I have since worked on "Air" and it is currently hanging in my bedroom. I hope to finish "Wood" and "Metal" in the next few weeks.

These paintings prove a departure for me in style. I have always enjoyed working more literally and within the lines so to speak. "Elemental" has allowed me to stretch creatively and I think it's an example of my creative growth. I have only been a painter for the past few years, stumbling upon the outlet somewhat out of desperation at a low time in my life, and have been excited by the translations I have created and the feelings of fulfillment I get every time I work on a piece.