My roots are in a rural Montana valley surrounded by vast, rolling plains that rise to meet the Rocky Mountain Front. Through my time there, I developed an unfaltering love for wild spaces and the creatures that inhabit them. Today I express this reverence through painting as I strive to spark wonder, joy, and appreciation for the natural world. My subjects tend to be those I have encountered in nature, such as crows, foxes, and deer. Other times, I choose to explore the world through painting unusual animals or mythical creatures I have never seen. Each painting has an underlying meaning associated with an emotion or a personal experience, and I often use symbolism derived from plants and flowers to reinforce these feelings. I paint using acrylic gouache, which dries to a velvety matte finish. Most of my works are small or medium in scale, ranging from 2.5x3.5” cards to 10x10” panels. Within each piece I balance areas of loose, energetic brushwork with areas of fine detail. I exaggerate the saturation and inject bright, unnatural colors to add a hint of magic.
