Personal Statement
Born the daughter of a machinist in Colorado, I grew up around metal and a variety of metal working equipment. It was my uncle Kenny, an iron worker, who taught me how to use a stick welder as we built my first masterpiece: a very functional shelving unit for the "chop shop". In fact, nearly everyone in the family works with metal in some manner; metal is in my blood.

A love of wild and free things combined with an addiction to fish led me to a degree in biology. It was at the university where my artistic side began to develop. Curiosity and a desire to speak Spanish propelled me into an exchange program in Costa Rica. It was on the black sand beaches or Tortuguero where I met a great wildlife artist named Ramiel Papish. I was there to monitor and study nesting sea turtles; Ramiel was working on a neo-tropical bird study. I became his pupil and we worked intensely on constructing an illustrated field guide of all the birds we captured that season. At this time that I began to scrutinize my art work and learned how to express biological accuracy in my art.

My experience in Costa Rica sparked a flame that has roared into a blazing fire. My love of culture, language, and nature has led me down an interesting river across Africa, South and Central America, Europe and North America. Never traveling without pencil and paint, my friends and family have received a diverse array of painted envelopes from around the world depicting my perception of the current location.

As a fish biologist I have worked in Washington state, Oregon and Alaska. I have learned that art and biology go hand in hand. Both require an eye for detail, keen observation skills, methodology, and creativity. My career as a biologist requires a hands on relationship with nature, which in turn nourishes my blossoming artistic traits. The natural world, its mysteries and vast diversity are the greatest inspirations for my art work.

Although just entering the medium of metal in October 2002, I believe I have found my niche in the art arena. I currently have art work in two Alaskan galleries: Artique Ltd. in Anchorage and Town Square Art Gallery in Wasilla. As I continue to grow and explore new avenues in metal, I hope to protray a love and respect for all things wild and free, while delivering a message of environmental ethics and responsibility.