About The Artist
Fieldwork. Lifework. Artwork. Heart-work.
As a lifelong artist, art educator, environmentalist and adventurer, I am passionate about The Earth, The Arts and Life Wild & Free. I feel it is important to consider our relationship with nature in all that we do and I hope my art intrigues and inspires you to look at the bigger picture, considering your place in it.
I specialize in nature-based fine art and photography, created from my backpack as I hike and explore in the great wide yonder, traveling cross country to where things grow wild & wooly and locally, in the oldest mountains in the world. This leads to a semi-nomadic lifestyle: criss-crossing the country, chasing the light, creating art in the field- from the beautiful rolling hills, lush forests and fertile fields of Pennsylvania, to the Rocky Mountains and wild places of Montana, The Adirondacks to Amelia Island, Vermont to West Virginia, Sedona to Taos, and every place in between. The views are never the same. Colors, textures and topography change. The vibes are completely different. But all things are connected. The wind carries energy, trees send messages, my heart beats to the rhythms of Life happening around me that become the masterpiece.
My influences include Georgia O’Keeffe, who blazed the trail for wild women to go, see and do whatever their souls felt called to do; and John Muir, who helped preserve the land and whose quote, “Life is big and I want to get a good look at it before it gets dark,” perfectly describes the force behind my forays into the wild. I’m an avid reader, writer, gardener, and a lifelong learner: every moment presents an opportunity to dance, laugh, learn, grow and share.
As an artist on the trail, I carefully craft my visual masterpieces to celebrate the essence of nature and Life Wild and Free: light, color and energy in the moment, the spirit of howling wolves, wild horses and thundering herds of bison, the power of mountains, rivers and oceans, the Life Force that connects us all.
This inspires my creations and the variety of media I use to capture the moment and emotions. Along with my cameras, my favorite backpack mediums are soft pastel and watercolor to capture the essence of nature quickly as I’m hiking and exploring. In my studio, I love experimenting with mixed media, combining beeswax with oils, acrylics and natural objects on larger pieces.
I have a BS in Art Education and MA in Humanities from Penn State University, with focus on Native American Art, Culture and the Environment. I taught art in the public school system for nearly twenty years. I am a member of The Pennsylvania Guild Of Craftsmen and many local and global environmental organizations. I am also the owner of Earth Artisan & Outfitter in historic downtown Carlisle. For the past decade Earth has focused upon mindfully connecting people to the planet with eco art, goods, gear and guides for home, garden and trail. I also organize environmental education events such as the Earth Day Celebration in Carlisle and teach adult art education workshops and nature journaling excursions.
Please contact me if you would like to purchase artwork featured here, or view and purchase from my complete art collection in person at Earth Artisan & Outfitter.
Limited Edition Art Note Cards
These folded, blank note cards are miniature prints of original works of art created in the great wide yonder, on adventure, all over the country. Original works of art and larger limited edition poster prints may be available for purchase in the shop, please stop by or contact us for more information.