“I’ve always been crazy about modern art and mid-century design”
I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. My mother, an artist, was a distant cousin of Maxfield Parrish and so I grew up with the smell of mineral spirits and oil paint. I pursued a degree in education with a minor in music and art. After moving to the Pacific Northwest, in 1999, I specialized in photography and graphic design. After 20 years as a professional photographer, I chose to change course and pursue a career with my other love, painting. In 2015, I moved to the coast of Oregon and being so close to the water, my soul longed for something new. As I developed my own voice, I moved from representational to abstract. Midcentury modern design was rooted in functionality, clean lines, and simplicity, which reflected the world during the 50’s and 60’s. I was a child of older parents who served in WWII. In this new series, I am turning back to the time of my childhood. The simple, yet elegant wood furniture was solidly built to last many lifetimes. Art was simple and bold. As I explore simplicity, I am moving my chaotic lines and textures beneath the painting. Taking from my past as a quilter, I am exploring “fabric-piecing”. Using mixed media, I apply paint and textures with wax, acrylic paint and various mediums. Random pieces of textured canvas are pasted throughout. The canvas pieces feel more organic and dynamic when pieced together like a patchwork quilt. These simpler designs come alive with texture as you move closer in.
