Artist's Statement

The brief moments in the day that give us the most luminous, rich & fleeting colors are what compel me to put paint to canvas. I am drawn to the shadows and highlights. The drama and intensity that the colors and shadows create pulls me in, and makes me want to be a part of it. I took many fine arts classes at Washington State University, in a range of media from paper to clay, before graduating in 2001. While living in rural Japan from 2003 to 2007, I studied the rich textile history of that culture. The local grandmothers taught me to sew kimono and embroidery the traditional way, by hand. Today I continue to explore the endless creative possibilities through further study at Moore College of Art and Design. Whether practicing art under the guidance of qualified instructors, or through a self-taught burning need to learn a new technique, my focus remains clearly pointed toward texture. This most likely originated due to my love of textiles, which I inherited from my mother; as a result I really enjoy touching objects to revel in the sensations that result against my skin. I feel it is important to work that textural element into my paintings. Currently, I am exploring many of these same ideas through portrait studies and large-scale paintings of flowers.