Alive and Dreaming Painting

I am a Chicago-based oil painter inspired by nature, color and light, and the brush strokes of masters and contemporary artists. An art instructor first told me that I'm a colorist. Above all else, I see nuances in color that I depict or recreate to share a sense of joy and energy through my work. I often use a range of techniques-- thickly applied oil paints, pastels, collage, and a vivid palette-- to create dynamic compositions of places and experiences that inspire happiness and reflection. A life-long student of fine art, I enjoy exploring all that is possible through the rich colors and textures of oil paint. Because of this, I appreciate the artist's journey and embrace the surprises that come from exploring new ideas, mediums, and the unexpected results that come from experimentation. I believe we are all artists and we just need to find the medium that best fits our style and personality. For me the journey of working with pencil, charcoal, watercolors, and clay ultimately led me to oil paint-- a fast, forgiving, slow drying, brilliant way to share a feeling or tell a story. I find inspiration in the everyday and especially in light, shadows, reflections, and colors of nature. Fashion, music, travel memories and our most pure human emotions inspire me. I take photographs often and use many to help me shape ideas for future work. I regularly show my work in local exhibitions and galleries. I can be found in my painting studio in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood in the Kimball Arts Center and am open to studio visits and host open houses (find me on Instagram to join my mailing list for invites!). I welcome questions and am open to talking about how I approach custom work based on your inspiration, ideas, vibe, and wall size.