Early in my adult life I dove into motherhood, and work in various capacities. I realized eventually that somewhere along the way, I had lost touch with myself, with what makes me me. As a child and into my teen years, art was a huge part of my life. Somewhere around my college years, I began to doubt my skills and I eventually set it aside for more practical pursuits. I would still do the occasional craft, but it was typically more centered on my children and family as opposed to an outlet to meet my personal needs. Fast forward a few years and I found myself feeling lost. I needed a direction. I no longer felt comfortable in my own skin and I felt isolated with no identity of my own. I knew there had to be something more for me.

Around this time I began to turn back to art. The problem was that I no longer FELT creative. I lost the joy in creating because I felt that my skill was not good enough. I was met with frustration and defeat. For a few years I would go from trying to create art to feeling overwhelmed by it and putting it down, feeling like I failed. During those early years, I discovered that I enjoyed taking my kids to a local art studio that encouraged open, playful expression. I found that when I was there I had as much fun as the kids did!

I ended up moving across the country back to my hometown and was presented with a unique opportunity to start a similar creative space. I began to learn through the children who visited my studio to play, and to be curious. I discovered resources for expressive art and intuitive art, that reshaped my beliefs in my own ability. The more I learned the more I wanted to help others learn to tap into their creativity too. I began working with adults, primarily women. I researched, I read, I found inspiration in others, and I began to develop a practice. This practice has been huge for my personal growth over the years. I have learned so much about myself. It has provided me with a sense of grounding. It has given me an outlet for my voice and it has helped me to build my confidence.

I have met so many women over the years who have a similar story to mine. I believe that this practice can help them too. I believe it can help you. You don’t need to feel creative, you don’t need to have any skill in art. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to explore. I blend open intuitive art practices with thoughtful journal reflections that help to challenge your limiting beliefs and shift your mindset. These practices help you to strengthen your bond with yourself and build your confidence to create the life you want to live!

My artwork over the years has developed and grown with me. I have learned to create in a way that feels good to me. I would describe my style as loose and whimsical. I work primarily in watercolor and inks. I love to start with intuitive splashes of color then pull out details that stand out to me. The majority of my art is inspired by nature and mindfulness. I love to create landscapes, foliage, and illustrations. Below you can see samples of my recent more finished work. I still love to create messy playful art too and I spend a lot of time in my art journals just playing!