Mixed Media Artist, Weaver,
Seamstress, Painter, Collage, Textiles

If I weren’t an artist, I would be a scientist, probably a biologist . . .

“What would happen if?” That’s the question for artists and scientists. A scientist hypothesizes, experiments and concludes. An artist wonders, experiments, and creates. Which is why if I’m not in a classroom, art studio or my garden, I might be found “junkin” at a garage sale or wandering around a hardware store imagining artistic uses for the objects I see.

Art has always been a part of my life. I weave, paint, stitch, collage, imagine and construct . . .

I began as a weaver and seamstress, then I moved into surface design, painting and piecing fabrics to create textiles for interiors: table runners, placemats, pillows and wall art. This morphed into my current work creating surface designed papers I use to make stitched collages.

My work is inspired by organic shapes . . .

My imagery often involves leaves, trees, bark, seedpods, dune grass, water . . . As an avid gardener, I find inspiration in the shapes, colors, textures, aromas and flavors found in my garden. Sometimes my expression is figurative but other times it’s an impression of Northwest nature.

ART EDUCATOR

The sounds of happy, curious students imagining, problem solving and creating is my goal . . .

I strive to have students absorbed in art making; discovering, collaborating and reflecting. I want them to problem solve through process, understand through imagination and gain confidence through experience. There’s nothing more gratifying than students feeling proud and successful about their creations.

One of the things I enjoy about working with children is their ability to innovate and approach art with energy and insight. .

As a teaching artist, I get to see the world through students’ eyes and vicariously experience the wonder of discovery and expression as they try new ideas. I see the joy of learning something for the very first time. No day, hour, or minute is ever the same.

My students think creatively and critically, they use kinesthetic as well as visual ‘intelligences’ and they have fun! 

Students learn design basics and art techniques and sometimes they take an art integrated dive into school curriculums.  Whatever the age, or the focus, art is a powerful way to explore ourselves and the world around us.