Formal Artist Statement

As far back as I can remember, I’ve been captivated by wildlife and wild places. From sketching African savannah scenes during second grade math class to receiving a Master’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, my passion for giving a voice to wildlife has never wavered. My career has included roles as a big cat sanctuary worker, adjunct biology professor, and forester with the U.S. Forest Service. While these experiences were incredible, creating art of wildlife has always been at the heart of who I am.

I often escaped to nearby babbling brooks, flowering meadows, and old growth woods to immerse myself in the wild. With each songbird singing on the fence post, white-tailed deer lightly stepping through autumn leaves, and monarch butterfly laying an egg on milkweed before letting the circle of life take hold, I was mesmerized by nature’s details and loved replicating them on paper. This fascination led me to watercolor, a medium that mirrors nature’s unpredictability and offers a unique creative freedom. Its irreproducible qualities make each piece as distinctive as the natural world itself.

After years of practice, I shared my work online and was thrilled by the incredible response. Commissions poured in, and each piece became an opportunity to connect others with wildlife conservation. This growing passion inspired me to launch Wild Planet Creations, a meaningful bridge between my art and advocacy for the natural world.

Looking ahead, I hope to deepen the connection between art and conservation by expanding my work to reach broader audiences through exhibitions and collaborations. My goal is to inspire a greater appreciation for the natural world and foster a sense of stewardship. By continuing to explore how art can serve as both a reflection of and a call to protect our planet’s ecosystems, I aim to further unite my passions for wildlife, advocacy, and artistic expression.