There are things in life that stir something within us — things we see, feel, remember, imagine, or simply sense. When we are present enough to notice them, and willing to take the time to consider what they might be awakening in us, we begin to understand more about ourselves, about others, and about the world around us.
As an artist, I have learned that seeing is about more than observing what is physically in front of us. It is also about becoming attentive to the quieter things of the mind, heart, and soul. As we learn to ponder, reflect, and consider, we become more receptive to the small impressions and inner nudges that reveal what matters to us — what moves us, what we believe, what we long for, and what we feel drawn to bring into the world.
Before something is created with the hands, it is often created first within the mind and heart. As we take time to truly see, we begin to imagine, to ponder, and to quietly work through the desires of our hearts. Little by little, an inner vision begins to form. What was once only a feeling, a thought, a memory, or an inspiration can then be given physical form.
For me, this is part of what it means to create: to pay attention to and consider what is stirring within, to understand it more deeply, and then to give it a place in the visible world.
This website grew from a desire I have carried since my daughter passed away in 2011 — to do something good in the world and, in some small way, help ease the hardships of others. Through humanitarian experiences, our family has seen needs that stayed with me, yet for a long time I wasn’t sure what I personally had to offer.
After sixteen years of painting, the quiet nudges began to feel clearer. I started to see that perhaps something I had spent years learning, practicing, and loving could also become a way to give. My hope is to create beautiful, meaningful work that is worthy of being shared and sold, with a portion of what I earn going to charities and causes I care deeply about.
It may only be a small contribution, but this Atelier is my first brushstroke toward that desire — to create something beautiful and allow that beauty to reach beyond the canvas and do a little good in the world.
As you explore the Atelier, we hope you find a place to come and sit, to slow down and consider; a place for inspiration, beautiful artwork, and meaningful art education; a place where giving can become part of creating through the purchase of art; and, perhaps most of all, a place that encourages each of us to carry a little more light, beauty, and goodness into the world around us.