There are some things in life that you can’t control.  There are certain things that are just a part of you no matter what.  Art has always been a part of me. I cannot remember a time where I was not creating art in some way.  The outdoors inspires my work.  Growing up in the beautiful mountains of Breckenridge Colorado, my free days were spent fly fishing, horseback riding, hiking, and skiing.

My next home was Missoula Montana where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art at the University of Montana.  I learned the history of art and studied the masters.  I experimented with all types of mediums from pottery to printmaking.  I fell in love with the colorful works by Georgia O’Keeffe and Frida Kahlo.  I continue to be inspired by these strong female artists who weren’t afraid to put their souls on canvas for the world to see.

My next adventure took me to Bali, Indonesia, where I enrolled in a program to study the art and culture of the country.  I immediately fell in love with the beauty and brightness of batik and began training in the centuries-old process with a very skilled, local Balinese man.

Batik is a wax resist dye technique used to create images and patterns on fabric.  The Batik process originated in Indonesia, and is traditionally used in ceremonies and rituals, as well as everyday life.  The Balinese people are draped in the colorful Batik clothing. Recently Batik has been viewed as more of a fine art and showcased amongst paintings and sculptures.

My favorite part of making batik is the mystery.  It is difficult to tell what Batik will look like until all the wax is removed from the fabric. The dye and the wax come together to form unique lines that are never the same.  I love the bright, bold colors that compliment the rich earth tones and choose my dyes accordingly.

My newest home is Jackson Hole Wyoming, where I am again surrounded by natural beauty. The peace that I find skiing in the Teton Mountain Range or fly fishing along the Snake River flows through my work.  It is the beauty around me that drives my need to create. I am fueled by the bright colors of the aspen trees in the fall, the excitement of a rising cutthrout trout, even the stillness of a cold snowy day, and the desire to share my work with other.