About the Artist

My Background

I grew up on a small farm in the piedmont of North Carolina, surrounded by a variety of animals (including 2 horses that my family owned) and many acres of woods that I explored on foot and on horseback.  Being involved in the care of my family’s garden, animals, and woods instilled in me a curiosity about how the natural world works and our relationship with it. I also learned how connection to the land brings a sense of peace and perspective.

As I went through my undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and became more interested in natural history, I decided to pursue a career in science education. Following my Bachelor of Science from UNC-Chapel Hill, I continued at UNC pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus in secondary science. I then taught middle school science for several years and now work as an environmental educator for my local Soil and Water Conservation District. I work with K-12 students and teachers in a variety of capacities to increase awareness and understanding of local conservation issues, particularly in agriculture.

My hobbies include nature photography, caring for my many pet fish, reptiles, and frogs, hiking with my dog, fossil-hunting and rock-collecting, and volunteering at a therapeutic horse riding center. I love exploring new places and seeing the unique geology, soils, plants, and animals that make a place special.

I work to connect others with nature, inspiring them to appreciate the beauty, diversity, and intricacies of the natural world around us.

My Art

I create art to raise awareness of local biodiversity and special native habitats, sharing the wonder of creatures that are always close by, but not always visible.  And, of course, I am drawn to capturing the beauty of horses — their personality, grace, power, and relationship with nature. While my style is highly realistic, I also look for ways to capture the magic of the subjects — a sense of mystery and depth beyond our understanding.

I consider myself to be a self-taught artist. When I was a young child I constantly drew horses, barns, and underwater scenes (and these themes have remained much the same since then). My art has always been a way to express my love for the subject and feel closer to it, paying homage to the beauty of a horse, bird, or landscape. It is a practice in deep observation and ultimately in sharing and fostering connection.

I use a variety of media depending on what best suits the subject: oil paint, acrylics, watercolor, colored pencil, pens, and sometimes a combination of all of them! I also create digital illustrations for stickers, coloring pages, and other works. Photography is a key part of my artistic process, serving as an avenue for me to more closely observe the natural world, document species, and capture their beauty.  Most of my artwork is based off of my own photographs, but others are based on public domain images from other photographers.

It is my hope that my art enriches your life, bringing greater awareness to the wonderful creatures around us and appreciation of our equine partners.

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This bee is in the genus Megachile in Leafcutter family. They have big ole mandibles that they use to cut leaves (and sometimes flower petals) to use as protective lining in their nests! They are solitary bees and each female makes her own nests, oft
This fuzzy Bumble Bee is called Sanderson's Bumble Bee (Bombus sandersoni). They are found across the eastern U.S. up into Canada, and prefers wooded areas. If you like blackberries, this bee is your friend, because it pollinates them :) This species
Ah, one of my favorite bees, the Mining Bees. Andrena is a common genus of this group. They are ground-nesting, generally preferring to nest in sandy soils. Many are quite fuzzy and often have tufts of hair between their eyes. This genus also has one
This watercolor illustration is of a Small Carpenter Bee in the genus Ceratina. They are in the same family as bumble bees, honey bees, and carpenter bees (family Apidae). These tiny bees (think about 1/8 to a 1/4 of an inch) nest in old wood and are
This is a bee you’ve probably never heard of: Lasioglossum (meaning “hairy tongue” in Greek). This small sweat bee (in the family Halictidae) is one of the most common on the planet, found on every continent. They are important poll
The Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Bombus impatiens, is indeed very common in North Carolina. You can identify them by their single segment of yellow hairs on their abdomen, whereas other bumble bee species have more yellow segments. They are a general
When I was in undergrad I did an internship project where I surveyed (caught, identified, and preserved the specimens of) native bees in the Highlands area of North Carolina. I made a field guide of the 10 most common species I found, and painted ea
“Afternoon” - 8” x 10” acrylic on canvas This painting was inspired by a photo I took of some cows on a hill near Boone, NC. And I thought to myself how pretty it would look if a horse were grazing under the tree on top of the