I graduated with a BA in Fine Art from Westmont College in 2006, and continued my studies at the Denver Artist's League. I married the best man in the world in October 2009, and we are currently living in Carpinteria, California enjoying life by the sea.
I am so blessed to live in such a beautiful area, there are SO many things that inspire me here. Tall palm trees contrasted against the sky, seaside cliffs, adorable bright buildings, quaint little towns. My goal is to isolate and build upon things that I find beautiful, things that others may have overlooked.
My Painting Process:
I paint using an alla prima technique, painting wet-on-wet usually in a single layer, and in a single sitting. I really hate to stop working on a painting before I'm finished with it, so this approach suits me perfectly!
I start out with a pretty detailed pencil sketch on my chosen painting surface, then I add a thin oil wash, usually burnt sienna, just to give it some tone. Then work from dark to light, or if the sky is very prominent I complete that area first, and then continue the dark to light approach to the rest of the painting.
I also work in a solvent free studio, something I highly recommend! You can read more about my solvent free method in this article
The Studio:
Selected Shows and Awards:
SCAPE "Art Along the River" Santa Barbara, CA, Juried Show- May 2010 - 2nd place, Realism "Make Hay While the Sun Shines" Palm Loft Gallery, Carpinteria CA, Juried Show - July-Sept 2010
Corktree Cellars, Carpinteria CA - Solo Show - August - November 2010
Gallery 855, Carpinteria CA - October 2010 - 3rd place, Overall
Hutton Foundation, Santa Barbara CA - October 2010 - April 2011
Gallery 855, Carpinteria CA, Juried Show - Nov 2010- Jan 2011
Faulkner Gallery, Sanata Barbara CA - SCAPE Juried Show - Jan 2011
Palm Loft Gallery, Carpinteria, CA - Landscape Invitational - Jan 2011 - Feb 2011
Channing Peake Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA - Juried Show - Honorable Mention - March -August 2011
Palm Loft Gallery, Carpinteria, CA - Juried Show - March 2011
SCAPE "Art Along the River" Santa Barbara, CA, Juried Show- May 2011 - 1st Place - Urban Landscape, 2nd Place - Portrait/Figurative.
Red Door Gallery, Carpinteria, CA - Featured Artist "Contrasts"- July 2011
Palm Loft Gallery, Carpinteria, CA - Featured Artist "Points of View"- Aug - Oct 2011
Divine Inspiration Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA - Solo Show, Oct 2011 - April 2012
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA - Juried Show - May-June 2012
Santa Barbara Tennis Club, Featured Artist - July-August 2012
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA - Invitational - October 2012
Gallery 855, Carpinteria CA, Juried Show - Nov 2010- Jan 2011
Faulkner Gallery, Sanata Barbara CA - SCAPE Juried Show - Jan 2011
Palm Loft Gallery, Carpinteria, CA - Landscape Invitational - Jan 2011 - Feb 2011
Channing Peake Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA - Juried Show - Honorable Mention - March -August 2011
Palm Loft Gallery, Carpinteria, CA - Juried Show - March 2011
SCAPE "Art Along the River" Santa Barbara, CA, Juried Show- May 2011 - 1st Place - Urban Landscape, 2nd Place - Portrait/Figurative.
Red Door Gallery, Carpinteria, CA - Featured Artist "Contrasts"- July 2011
Palm Loft Gallery, Carpinteria, CA - Featured Artist "Points of View"- Aug - Oct 2011
Divine Inspiration Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA - Solo Show, Oct 2011 - April 2012
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA - Juried Show - May-June 2012
Santa Barbara Tennis Club, Featured Artist - July-August 2012
Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA - Invitational - October 2012
Memberships:
SBAA - Santa Barbara Art Association
