About ME
Art has always been a part of my life. As a child, I had a knack for drawing and even started my first "art business" selling unicorn sketches door-to-door with a friend. Whenever anyone asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always the same: a mom and an artist.
After earning my BFA from the University of Utah in 2005, I moved to Northern Virginia. I spent five years working an office job, squeezing in time for oil painting on the weekends. By 2010, I knew I needed to make my art a true priority. I returned to Utah to study under the renowned artist Jeff Hein at the Hein Atelier of Traditional Art.
After five years, I graduated from the intensive program in 2015—the same year I got married. Since then, my career as a fine artist has been slowly growing as I navigate the busy, beautiful realities of motherhood. Today, I live in West Jordan with my husband and our three children. Between homeschooling our two daughters and learning ASL with our young son, who is deaf with cochlear implants, our days are full. Through it all, I am incredibly grateful to be living out my childhood dream every single day.
About My technique
I enjoy two very different styles of painting. The first is representational where I depict a specific image using intentional, controlled strokes. I studied for years to improve my drawing abilities and feel great satisfaction when I can create a likeness of a person or object on a flat surface.
The other style of painting is abstract where I sometimes begin without a clear end in mind. I love to experiment with the paint by diluting it, dripping it, combining different mediums, and layering colors. I like to watch the paint move around on the canvas and see what I can create without having complete control.
In both of these techniques I delight in the act of painting as well as in the finished product and the sweet spot for me right now is finding a balance between these two approaches. In my recent starry sky paintings I begin the process with dripping and layering and I slowly build up the paint to create rich colors and depth. Adding a highly rendered person is like the cherry on top.
Awards and Honors
Award of Merit, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints International Art Competition, 2019
People’s Choice Award, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints International Art Competition, 2019
Honorable Mention, Springville Spiritual and Religious Show, 2018
Juror’s Award, Eccles Community Art Center Black and White Competition, 2016
Conference Tuition Scholarship, Portrait Society of America, 2016
Third Place, Sandy Visual Arts Show, 2015
Gospel Vision of the Arts Scholarship, 2014
Exhibitions
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints International Art Competition, 2025
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints International Art Competition, 2022
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints International Art Competition, 2019
Springville Spiritual and Religious Show, 2018
Eccles Community Art Center Black and White Competition, 2016
Springville Spiritual and Religious Show, 2015
Sandy Visual Arts Show, 2015
Hein Academy of Art Graduation Show, 2015
Education
Hein Atelier of Traditional Art, 2010-2015
University of Utah BFA, 2005