Art, nature, and the human spirit have always been an important part of my life. When I was very young, I wrote several handbound books, one titled Staring at Trees, as that was one of my favorite things to do. It was full of illustrations of trees as I saw them: bending, moving, changing, and very much alive with healing energy. This made me realize, even then, how important it is to be present, pay attention, observe, and listen with my heart.
I feel so lucky to have grown up in a time unencumbered by technology, allowing me the freedom to spend my days imagining, playing, building forts outside made up of sticks, bark and flowers, or hiding in a quiet place and reading. These years are the foundation of my continued love of stories and my awe of nature: magnificent colors, lush fragrances, an array of textures, symmetry and asymmetry found in flowers and plants, songs of various birds, wing patterns of insects, I could go on and on.
As I completed school, the experience of allowing myself to create daily, to make mistakes, to stretch my comfort zone had a profound effect on my willingness to take a leap of faith in myself over and over again in my life.
College came over many years and I find myself returning often. I love to be in the educational setting and learn new things. I strive to never stop learning. Some of the things I have studied are architectural renderings, business management, painting, pottery, life drawing, art as therapy, and psychology. I have a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and hold certificates of study in addiction therapies, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, suicide prevention, and more. I am currently studying to become a PTSD coach, and a RADT.
Art classes allowed me to find a place where I could get lost. Lost in flow, a state of mind where outside thoughts cease, time doesn’t matter, and I am solely focused on the art in front of me. It is therapeutic and restorative, centering and calming. It’s truly a wonderful state of mind.
Psychology is an area that has always fascinated me. The human psyche is so incredibly complex. I am drawn to what makes each of us unique and have immense capacities to continually create, grow, heal, inspire, overcome, and attain new heights. Mental illness is an area of study that has my devotion and I continue to learn more about the many treatments today and in particular the effects of art therapy for those with disorders of the brain.
I find myself drawn to the crossroads of art and psychology. Art holds an immense power to tell our stories, portray our emotions, and to heal.
I aim to be the teller of stories— and to facilitate and empower others to tell their stories— with paintbrush, pencil, pen and ink, and other marking tools— by listening with our hearts, being present, and allowing our senses to lead our observations. In this place, our creativity is expressed unencumbered, embraced and celebrated.