Artist Biography Originally from Mississippi, I attended Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, where I studied Studio Art. I received my MFA in Painting from The University of Mississippi. I have been a graphic designer, a gallery associate, and a pre-school art teacher. Now I live in Decatur, GA, where I paint full-time and teach a children’s art class in my studio. My husband and children are very supportive, and cheerfully put up with me when I get obsessed with my work. Artist Statement As a painter, I spent decades working on different series, searching for the style and subject matter that I felt most connected to. Once I finally embraced the playful and strange pictures and ideas that populate my brain, I began building visual stories that convey aspects of the human condition. I begin with sketches and research to find symbols and visual associations relating to the ideas I’m interested in exploring. Working predominantly in oil on canvas, I use traditional brushes and non-traditional tools such as children’s toys, found objects, and kitchen gadgets to make multilayered marks. I create characters and employ symbolic elements to construct meaningful relationships within the image. My paintings are nonsensical narratives that represent moments of human experience and emotion.