My story

My hands seem to be the conduit through which I explore the world and make sense of the complex connections I feel. Those connections generally start with family and the stories that populate my memories. I turn to nature with its glorious collection of patterns, color and possibilites for structure and palette.

I am originally from the south but have lived all over the world finally settling in Tennessee several years ago. I feel reunited with my roots in the beautiful part of the world; the land, plants, animals and people of this area remind me why I love making art. So many of the things I find interesting relate to the upbringing I had in the south as part of a large, complicated and colorful family. The myths, legends and reimagined stories are central to who I am. My ongoing fascination with storytelling, memory and patterns found in nature are all woven together under one umbrella but the processes used to tell my stories constantly changes. Perhaps that’s the consistantly inconsistant rhythm that keeps my attention; it’s like reading a book again after many years only to find it feels new all over again. The central themes of my work are always being reconsidered and mined for new understanding; exploring the processes that allow for that change makes me eager to get back to the studio every day.

One of my ongoing challenges has been feeling I had to choose just one medium as a focus. I used to struggle when asked which suited me best, paint, ink, clay or perhaps wax? But I’ve come to realize that I love the process of making art most. Each image and story deserves fresh consideration and I search for the best possible tool and material to make it a reality. This always leads to new discoveries and possiblities which fuels all others to come.

Click on the links below to access articles written about my work and process over the years, and if you’d like to see where I studied and have exhibited those buttons are below.