"My first love was my relationship with God, as seen in the beauty of nature"

​

​

​​​​​​​​​

I was born in an urban area near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When I was very young, my family moved to the eastern shore of the Delmarva Peninsula, where I was thrilled to be surrounded by farmland, woods, and the ocean! There, I was captivated by nature, spending much of my time roaming the outdoors, delighting in the amazing open skies, and enjoying the light that played in the leaves of the trees and the waters. I remember walking barefoot in the sand of the beach, listening to the rhythm of the waves speak the peace of God to me. All of these things have influenced the art that I create today, and most especially, my fascination with the study of dramatic light, shadow, and color.

​

As a seasoned artist, I have chosen the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to be my home. I love to paint and write in the beauty of the mountains, the hills, and the valleys. I am surrounded now by mountain sunrises and sunsets, the woods of the Appalachian Trail, and the Shenandoah Valley’s vast pastures, lakes, and vineyards. My home offers me constant inspiration, whether I am plein air painting (painting outdoors with natural light), or drawing and painting in the coziness of the studio.

​

As an artist, I am fascinated with nature as a reflection of the divine. The beauty of nature offers us a source of peace and joy that is often missing in our day--to--day world. It is a reminder of the goodness and love of God for us, and its message communicates to us that we are uniquely and beautifully made— we have a purpose for our lives.

Nonetheless, we also see volatility in nature. Nature is full of unexpected and sudden changes, carrying the need for resilience through weather and storms.  The sublime contrasting drama of beauty and storm played out in nature is much like the storms that we face in our own lives; often these are the storms we fight to find meaning in. My paintings portray this drama of nature through light itself. I contrast light, shadow, and reflection in my work. These metaphorically portray the unpredictable dangers and trials which we encounter in life. In this way, the study of nature also enables us to realize how dangerous life can be, and realize our need for a relationship with God, who is our source for safety, beauty, and light.

​

A final underlying theme in my work is my focus on forming connection. We are not meant to live in isolation. I also enjoy painting people, especially children in various outdoor settings. We are made in the image of God. We need Him, and we need each other. I am passionate in helping others, and delight in teaching as much as I enjoy painting and writing! My relationship with my friends and clients is important to me; so, I hope you will join me as a fellow traveler on this journey to uncover meaning and purpose for us in this life and the joy of expressing that through the arts!