At Home in the Art World

I am a practicing artist. My entire home is an art studio. I paint, draw, and create mixed-media portraits and landscapes. I’m also enthusiastic about fiber arts — the timeless art of needlepoint, with a modern spin. I use embroidery to reproduce heirloom photos on vintage textiles. I also create contemporary wallhangings with freeform embroidery in impressionistic designs. I like my students to see me making art: I bring my needlework on the bus for field trips, and I teach my classes how I create.

Fiber Art

“Florida Life” a series of French Knots (also called Marriage Knots) bring texture to the flower bed.
“Florida Life” did you know that Florida means flower?
“Mountain Top” Oval hoops are the most rare shape in embroidery.
“Mountain Top” the mountains look thick thanks to the close together satin stitch.
“Five Senses Series: Sound” Differing thickness of embroidery floss highlight the hairs of the inner ear.
“Five Senses Series: Touch” This is my actual fingerprint! I was printed for my teaching license.
“Five Senses: Sight” Based on an actual optical scan of my eyes.
“Five Senses: Sight” Sewing on patterned fabric brings unique challenges and results.
“Five Senses: Taste” The radial design references the layered arrangements of tastebuds on the tongue.
“Five Senses: Smell” Thick layers of poured paint create a textured background for this diagram of the sinuses.
“Horses” This piece involves five different art materials. Can you spot them?
“Horses” I began with painting the foreground, middleground, and background in watercolor.
“Horses” Notice where the top layers of watercolor mix with the colors in the embroidery floss?
“Horses” Spray paint was used for tthe frame, fabric paint for the dots, and acrylic for lines and trees.
“Bloom” There’s a touch of magical realism in the spring flowers blooming forth from my Grandma’s snowblower.
“Wedding Present” Golden feather stitches base the blooming flowers. The ‘50’s type reminds us of classic love.
“Be Our Defense” The wings of the top Michael glisten with metallic paint.
“N is for Natalie” Would you believe you could hold this entire piece in the palm of your hand?
“Be Kind” This was used for my Instagram announcement of my new teaching position at Thorp Catholic School.
“Our Sun and Moon” This gifted piece is a modern take on traditional embroidered birth announcements.
“Our Sun and Moon” Seed stitching is the term for the array of background dots.
“Miro’s Garden” Inspired by Joan Miro’s “Vegetable Garden With Donkey” painting.
“Miro’s Garden” You can watch this tutorial on Kenner Classroom’s YouTube page.
“Cute as a Button” The first stitch I teach is the backstitch (seen in the name and stems.)
“Book It” The roses on the left were created using the woven wheel stitch in multicolored embroidery floss.
“Your Lucky Day” Hand painted, wood burned spoons accompany this embroidery present.
“Your Lucky Day” Watercolored Mexican Loteria cards are embroidered on this piece.

Featured Artwork

“Shadows” Limited edition screenprint. Print one of eight.
“Shadows” I began each print in the series with an old photograph.
“Lake” Print one of three.
“Lake” The lines I drew are faded, like distant memories.
“Gaze” Print two of six.
“Gaze” Screen prints were done on thick, handmade paper.
“Belt” Each print was done with multiple inks all in the blue/green pallet.
“Belt” The lighter ink is what was found on the back of the photo.
“Glass” Print six of seven.
“Glass” prints were custom sized to fit into vintage frames.
“Home” The grey is Lake Nokomis, pink square is my Minneapolis home, and the pink lines are 28th Street and 32nd Avenue.
My ceramics training includes wheel throwing, hand building and molds. I can also load/fire kilns and mix clay and glazes.
A postcard promoting my senior show.
Inspired by Catholic pilgrimages, students found pendants around campus and journeyed to the art gallery for the matching necklace chain.
I dripped colored, purified holy water onto stickers for “dehydrated holy water.”
“Holy Water To Go” Jars of genuine holy water for the Catholic on the move!
This ceramic bust is decorated, in real gold, with paintings depicting St. Brigit’s many miracles.
“Pixel Portrait” This larger-than-life self portrait was made for an assignment on mixing grayscale shades of black and white.
“Fashion Without Fabric: Public Vs. Private” My 3D Design final involved walking the runway! My partner rips away my pretty skirt to reveal my hoarding secret.
Beet study: we were assigned to make 35 different drawings of a single vegetable.
(Painting Detail) My works are often whimsical in theme and bright in color. I love using thick paint and often blend directly on the canvas.