I've been making art and making stuff my entire life. I was a single mom with two small children. I was crazy-wacky and fortunate enough to successfully support the three of us as a self-employed illustrator/artist. The kids both launched successfully allowing me more freedom to sink into the maker version of me. This site is an umbrella where many of my creative passions and outlets have a home. I'm still an illustrator and a mapmaker, but I'm so much more.
The Neverending Journey
I have always identified as an artist + maker. I did not long to "be" an artist. I knew I simply was one.
My last husband disdainfully told me, "the world doesn't need another landscape painter," and that my "business was nothing more than a 'hobby.'" My last partner despised anybody who had the dared to call themselves an "Ahhh-teest." Yeah, they were both assholes too. Sorry/not sorry, that was extremely reductive of 20 years. I did love them both - at separate times, lol.
Straight out of high school I was accepted into the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. My art education blossomed at Viterbo College, a small private Catholic school in LaCrosse, WI. After spending six years in private art colleges I hated to graduate.
I loved that learning about art, art history and simply learning were my raison d'etre.
Throughout the years since I’ve supported myself and my kids as a single mom, my primary clients are environmentally related non-for-profits.
The work is wonderfully gratifying. Now it’s my turn. Making my art has moved into prime time slots. Always knew I’d get here.