About
The University of the Arts - B.F.A., 1997
Maine College of Art & Design - Post-Baccalaureate in Art Education, 2008
Teaching at Waynflete in Portland, Grades 6 and 9-12
For as long as I can remember, I have found enjoyment and value in using my hands to manipulate and make things. From making forts in the woods, Halloween costumes, and quilts when I was younger, to drawings and custom cabinetry when I was older, I have found the act of creating to be grounding and fulfilling. Sharing my love of making things with others through teaching has allowed me to continue to use my hands and creativity while fostering in students the idea that they are capable and creative beings.
Gallery
Artist Statement
I am happiest when I am engaged in the everyday world that surrounds me. However, in my busy life, it can be challenging for me to focus on the present. The art that I have made has always been rooted in elevating the mundane and finding beauty in the ordinary. When I made work out of wood and metal, it was often functional, allowing the user to perhaps get a little more joy out of turning on a light, opening a cabinet or sitting in a chair.
Now that I am a teacher, a mom, and a wife, I do not have the large swaths of time needed to do woodworking projects. Instead of making functional objects, I have found that observational drawing allows me to focus on the present. I can get lost in looking at what is in front of me. Noticing curves, angles, textures, and patches of light and dark and putting them on paper is a meditative and grounding act. I know I am in the present when I follow the contours of my toes when I’m sitting on the couch, when I notice the ever-so-soft texture of some moss at the base of a tree, when I observe the shifting shadows of leaves on the ground on a sunny day, or when I consider how my daughter’s nose covers part of her eye when she is reading a book at the kitchen table. Drawing can be quick - 30 seconds is all I need to show a student how to draw a mug or a box, a little longer if I am showing them how to draw a hand or an animal. I am lucky that I get to do this several times a day. Drawing for myself happens less often and I know I am missing out.
When I was tasked with creating two works of art, I was not quite sure what to do. Making something out of wood would not have been feasible with my schedule and life. Drawing felt too comfortable. I wanted to stretch myself, so I decided to paint. I regretted never taking a painting class while I was in art school and have only dabbled in it here and there, but never with sustained focus. This was the perfect opportunity for me to explore this medium. I knew I wanted to paint the woods. The woods are where I go to relax, observe, and get exercise. If I am feeling stressed out, I go for a walk in the woods. If I need some quiet, contemplative time to myself, I go to the woods. If I need some exercise, I ride my mountain bike in the woods. If my kids seem a bit wild, we head to the woods. When our dog needs a place to run without a leash, we take him to the woods. Ever since I can remember, I have enjoyed spending time in the woods. As a child, our backyard woods was a place I went with my sisters and friends to make forts and trails. Our father would take us for longer hikes in the woods starting behind our house through seemingly uncharted land, identifying various trees and plants, and helping us cross Goose Creek by shimmying over a fallen log. It was always jarring to pop out onto a totally familiar road a mile or two away from where we started.
While I prefer drawing from direct observation, with these paintings I needed to work from photographs and my memory. I have taken endless photographs of the woods where I spend my time, but I took photographs specifically for these paintings that focused on light and shadows. I found it challenging to decide which details to paint and what to leave out. Ultimately, I used what I enjoy most about the woods as my guide—light, shadows, colors, and textures. If I could get those things on the board, that is what mattered.