I am a life long artist with a deep love of nature and a background in the natural sciences. My long history as a professional illustrator, graphic artist and muralist has been extremely rich including many projects for national and state parks and visitor centers. Several years ago I felt pulled to explore working in 3 dimensions and a new form of artistic expression that was outside of the two dimensional world of art I had known.

This new journey began when I felt drawn to express the essence of the natural world through the medium of ancient fossil mammoth ivory and other natural materials. Little did I realize where this journey would take me. As I went deeper into the carving work, the spirit and energy of the pieces emerged, taking shape and often changing several times during the process. This is part of why I love carving... each piece is an unfolding journey from beginning to end, similar to being an archaeologist.... new, exciting, and often unexpected! I live many sacred moments when I’m deep into a carving whether it's a pendant or a sculpture. Working in these natural materials both ancient and contemporary connects me to a time when life was about ceremony and honoring the creatures of the earth. I feel very fortunate to bring forward something from the past that was once a living, breathing being and share it with others. I love to explore the meaning and symbolism of the natural world and express this essence through my art. Some day I may revisit painting, but for now carving is my passion.

Shifting my artistic focus to carving has called me to draw upon my varied background as a professional artist and my orientation toward creative exploration. These natural materials are mysteries – not one will be the same in color or texture and I never know what an inner layer will unfold. I experience a sense of sacredness when I’m deep into the carving.