Graduate Arizona State University 1998

b.f.a. Magna Cum Laude

BIOGRAPHY:  

A bit about me: 

I grew up all over the United States, learning to adapt quickly-- becoming the master of chameleons. At college I strived to learn all the art processes possible. After graduating I moved to Seattle and then took on the biggest test ever, I had a broken neck and a lower back that had 5 ruptured discs. Walking through a threshold never in my imagination could I create. Enduring severe pain, surgeries totaling thirty (31), and limitations of living with chronic pain, but not giving up on life or on the possibility of healing completely. Not, defining myself by the tortuous pain my body continues to search through and has sustained.

      After walking through one hellish threshold,I found myself walking through another which was the agonizing task of being a patient, and learning quickly how bad our health care system truly is.

     Because of all the paths I was given, it opened a giant window towards creating art. This allowed me to document every emotional degree within the process of "Patient," through the use of drawing.

      After a long battle getting my body back to as good as it is going to get for now status, and changing my armor daily,  I began to take my  figurative drawings and place them in their correct environment amongst many mixed pigments. I drew every figure knowing already what it's surroundings were. I foresee my art.

      My body of work reflects my many journeys as a patient, a woman, a warrior, survivor and that list goes on to infinite measures. My will to live, and to heal, insures the art creation progressing, and grows within me, reflecting me.

Most importantly, I found my unique and recognizable artistic style. That is an achievement beyond words.  I always have had an interest in the human body, the structure, the meat and bones behind the skin. Before getting my art degree I was a clinical lab assistant, virologist, Microbiologist, and an EMT and that allowed me to explore lots of scientifically groovy things. I see beyond skin. Our society has such taboos on the human nude figure, we are beautiful art works. Embrace shape, color, and texture varied with human species. I am fascinated with how the body moves, drapes, contorts, and lovely curves or angles. If I didn't create art I my next job would be a forensic doctor. Knowing what I do now through studies and being a patient, I think my qualifications catapult me to being called Doctor- it means teacher, I teach through my art and knowledge of what needs to change in the health care system.     Gracious thanks for reading.

what art should be

     I feel art has been so commercialized that the whole essence of  what "ART" really is has been lost. We need to focus on the artist's technique, history about the artist and where the art stems from, authentic appreciation for what is created and what impact the art creates to the viewer is key.

      Often , you do not see the energy of artisans talking about  all the elements of art.

WHAT YOU WILL SEE WITHIN MY ART  :

my drawings have always been a figure with her eyes covered-- that is for you to observe, investigate and conclude.

All my work has a fiber connection , that makes them a collective. Through under writen words, cohesive symbols, BUT: every mark, drip , brush stroke, everything, was put there with reason!!!

all of it.

Life seems to reflect through my lines.

A line is infinite and definitive at the same time.

My current interests are the simplicity that lines can make as an impression, an movement, an emotion, a pose or moment in time transferred through line.
I then take the line drawing and paint the figure a creative space to dwell.