“I create fantastical characters with the goal of sparking real connection. I try to capture relatable bits of humanity—complex emotions, vulnerability, and imperfect beauty—in a way that helps others see themselves and feel connection within my work.”
About Me
About Me
My journey to becoming an artist has been shaped by a lifelong fascination with human connection and emotional complexity. Emotive eyes are central to my work, serving as an invitation to connect with my characters. Inspired by the unguarded honesty of children, I infuse my characters with childlike traits to help even the most “grown-up” among us engage with themes of sadness, vulnerability, playfulness, and resilience.
While my subject matter varies, I’m continually inspired by the gentle strength and resilience I see in people. Whether we are optimistically planting seeds, lifting each other up, or bringing creativity into a world that is shaken by heartbreak, isolation and despair, I’m inspired by the hopeful narrative of our imperfect species.
And though it’s not a new story, it’s one I believe is worth telling again and again.
Examples of My Work
Fun Facts
- • Tag Free: I’m highly sensitive and have very low tolerance for itchiness. Even as an adult, I remove all those pesky tags from my clothing.
- • Dedicated Dessertist: I conduct meticulous double-blind ice cream taste tests and maintain a disciplined routine of sampling cookies, pies, and candy.
- • Classy: When Natalie Merchant personally serenaded me, I forgot how to speak, stepped in someone’s nachos, and sweat through my jeans. It was amazing, obviously.
- • Alive: I love to play in wild ocean waves. All my senses are heightened and I feel a deep sense of connection.
- • Running for my Life: I've been a lifelong runner, on and off. Recently, I discovered the power of "running toward" instead of "running from."
More About Me
What other non-artist jobs have you had?
I’ve worked as an ice-cream scooper, a file clerk, a labor and delivery nurse, a hostess, a medical assistant, a college instructor, a clarinet tutor, a certified nurse-midwife, and a professional actress. I worked in a home for people with traumatic brain injuries and in the kitchen at the Olive Garden. I was also the world’s worst waitress.
What's your most embarrassing moment?
Hmm… let’s see. It could have been that time I was dancing on a table in Chicago and my pants split open…or that time I walked across the entire University of Michigan campus with a purple bra flapping from my backpack…or the time I RAN into a window (thinking it was an open door), bounced off and then backwards rolled into the street – all in front of a large crowd. Or, it could have been the time I was in the middle of delivering a baby when my pants fell off. Or the time I fainted in the middle of assisting during a C-Section. To be honest, this is barely scratching the surface, I’m pretty sure I could fill this entire page with my embarrassing silly business.
What do you wish you could tell your younger artist self?
I’d sit younger me down and say, “Now listen up, Buttercup. Start. Right. Now. Don’t wait until you’ve watched all the videos or taken all the classes. Don’t wait until you understand the ins and outs of it all. Don’t wait until everyone else is taken care of or “the time is right.” Don’t even wait until you feel inspired, or confident, or brave enough, just start…RIGHT NOW…and then tomorrow, start again”.