VISUAL RESUME
I am an Artist!
It turns out that making art qualifies me as an Artist. It took me many years to accept this identity. Now I struggle to accept that being an Artist is a valid path for me. Even with this resistance, I keep showing up.
I can run far.
After reading “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall and discovering Courtney Dauwalter, I realized trail running was a grand slam experience for me… it fulfills me spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically. I cracked open my own limitations and learned that I can do hard things. I aspire to run Western States Endurance Race.
I am a community member.
In March 2022, I joined Open Ground Studios, a community art studio in Seaside, CA, as a coop member. In February 2023, I jumped on the opportunity to have my own designated studio space. When I am not with my family or exploring trails, you can most often find me making art and being inspired at OGS.
I am curating my ‘toolbox’.
After struggling to feel fulfilled in a career that aligned with my degree, I started to fill my ‘toolbox’ to support my emotional growth. This led me to embracing my creative self. I continue to add behavioral and cognitive tools to my ‘toolbox’ so that I can build meaningful relationships and creatively express my human experience.
I am a mother.
I am a mom of two. Becoming a parent was the hardest transition of my life. I strive to evolve my emotional health so that I can hold space for the emotional growth of these two unique humans. Being a mom forced me to accept that making art is a necessity to my well being. My creative strength is that I create like a seven-year-old… anything goes!
I am mindful.
In my mid-twenties, I completed my first of three Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction classes at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz. Learning meditation and mindfulness transformed my relationship to myself.
I am open to change.
With two toddlers in tow, our family relocated to a new area. It marked a shift in my willingness to make change even when it feels uncomfortable. I also learned that I am capable of building community. This move was also significant because it brought me to my first art mentor.
I got a degree.
Choosing to move away from the small community where I grew up to attend a four year university marks a significant stage of personal growth. I survived a year of homesickness, made lifelong friends, got a paycheck after graduating, and eventually accepted that a career in Agribusiness was not for me.
I ran a marathon.
Between the birth of our kids, I ran my first (and only) road marathon. It was difficult but I trained consistently and put one foot in front of the other to get through the final mile. In retrospect, I see my training as self-care and the goal setting as a way of valuing myself.
I can homeschool.
Our oldest child was in kindergarten when school closed due to the pandemic. I homeschooled both of our kids the next school year. It was a great opportunity to see if I could do it and equally challenging to capture their attention. I am proud of myself for doing it.
I completed “The Artist’s Way”.
Early in my pursuit of figuring how to make art, my mentor recommended I read “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. It is a 12 week workbook designed to help artist’s overcome resistances and tap into flow. It took me more than 12 weeks - 18 months, actually! - but I completed it and the growth that came from working through these steps are invaluable to my confidence and creative process.
I painted a utility box.
At the end of 2020, I submitted a proposal to paint a utility box on Grand Ave in Grover Beach, CA. My ‘color bubbles’ sketch was accepted and in January 2021 I prepped, painted and sealed a metal utility box. This project taught me how to manage my work time with kids, to communicate with public government and that preparing the surface can be as much work as the painting.
I traveled across the USA.
In the spring of 2021, our family of four packed a van and drove from California to Florida and back. In 39 days, we crossed 23 state lines, visited 7 national parks and family in 3 states, and stopped at zero chain coffee shops (thank you, local cafes!). We overcame all the can’ts and shouldn’ts to complete an epic cross country family road trip.
I am an Exhibiting Artist.
In January 2024, I participated in the Open Ground exhibit at the Marjorie Evans Gallery located in the Sunset Center in Carmel, CA. Alongside 8 other female artists, I displayed 3 new artworks including Red Hand, New Painting and Picnic at the Precipice, the latter of which I based on a poem written by Jenny Webster.