Artistic Background & Educator Story

For information about the history of my art teaching career and the studio, please read the Voyage Dallas article published here

My earliest interest in visual art began when I was about four years old from my grandmother, an oil painter who created incredible marine paintings and portrait sketches. I was amazed that brushes and paint could create incredible imagery, and that every artist had their own unique style. That interest quickly turned into a passion at fifteen when I attended the Spring Junior/Senior Art Show at UTPB. Captivated by the pieces in the gallery, art became my total focus. I joined Art I in high school, and began my journey into understanding and creating art.

After graduating high school, I majored in Visual Art and received training, encouragement, and support from my professors. Inspired by my painting professor's artistic and teaching abilities, I sought out to share the power and connection of art making with other people and empowering their inner artist. I student taught in 2008, and quickly discovered how much I loved seeing students discover their own creativity, and gain abilities to express themselves through new artistic skills. I graduated from The University of Texas of the Permian Basin in 2008 and received a TEA teacher certification in early 2009.

In my teaching positions at private schools as an art educator, I built an art program for a school, assembled and maintained studios, developed and implemented all art curriculum and assessment measures, taught all art classes from kindergarten to advanced high school art, and entered students in local art competitions.

I made connections with each of my students and watched them grow into incredible artists and people. Recognizing my ability to create content and connect with students in small groups and one-on-one, I decided in 2019 to teach classes and lessons independently from my home studio. I enjoy getting to know my students, and small classes and one-on-one instruction allow me to spend the appropriate time needed to build artistic skills and creative thinking with each individual student. It is my mission and passion to build and empower artists, encourage creative thinking and problem solving, and nurture their human need for self-expression and self-actualization through visual art.

I continue to create art independently through drawing, painting, printmaking, and ceramics. I also continue my art education through professional development and resources from Region 10 and museum education programs (The Warehouse/Rachofsky Gallery, The Dallas Museum of Art, The Nasher Sculpture Center, The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and The Kimbell Art Museum).