I am a graphic designer and artist working in Wisconsin.
I have experience in design, illustration techniques, marketing & communications.
My design aesthetic includes bold color, rich texture, a nod to the visual past when it suits the job, & an emphasis on communicating in a way that makes sense to the reader. I’m always looking for ways to communicate the specific message in the piece I’m creating, which means I can produce a wide variety of work, from a clean, corporate vibe to a fun and funky look for a show or program.
I am accustomed to listening carefully, asking questions, and learning what I need to know to do a great job. I also understand the crucial role great communications play in the success of any business.
With my background in writing, marketing and communications, I won’t just dump your text in the design without reading it. You can expect a fully integrated designer who can give positive, constructive feedback when needed and take it as well. I’ll do my best to assure that your work says exactly what you want it to say.
Last year did a commission piece for a friend's son, who loves dragons. I have to laugh because even though my house is full of stuff I painted on the wall (and by painted on the wall I mean ON the wall) I felt a little guilty starting in on this. Something about scribbling on the wall?
This is right after I finished, but before I cleaned up. Sam put a chair and lamp in that corner and now it's a reading nook. I love that.
Here's a bit more detail. And here is the dragon's face, close up. I wanted to do a dragon that was a bit more fierce than friendly, but I guess I don't have it in me.
Okay, so here's the latest on Beach Umbrella. It's tough to get back in the water sometimes. I want to move my work to new levels, both in execution and in getting them out there to be seen, but I get a little shy. After I didn't get into a juried show last year, I decided I had to try again this year, and Beach Umbrella is that attempt. Here it is, grouted and with a few detail shots. I'm proud of the overall piece, but, as with probably most artists, I can see places I would do differently next time.
I love this smile. Still. This woman looks like she knew how to have a good time.
This is one of my favorite of the portraits. She's not grinning as big but she's joyously expressive, even without the larger features.
Who dressed these people? But how can you resist their clear appreciation of the beach.
This is based on a photo of some friends of my husband's aunt, taken in Florida, in the 50's or 60's. To me they epitomize the era and the place. The photo is only so-so and the work isn't grouted yet so it will look different in the end (which is why I'm not taking great pains to make sure the photo is perfect, yet) but here it is.
Well, I just found out that I was not accepted to be part of the Society of American Mosaic Artists show. I can't say I'm not disappointed. I was very much hoping to be a part of that show and I think that I entered a pretty fine piece of work. But that is the risk of putting yourself out there, and I am most definitely not disappointed that I tried.
I think that this part of being an artist, putting yourself out there and facing the possibility of rejection (and even in many circumstances, PAYING for the privilege of being considered and then rejected) is the part that holds so many people back. It's one thing to create art that is unjudged by anyone other than friends and family. Another step to put it out in public to be viewed and possibly purchased by someone. But it has been the most difficult step of all, for me, to enter my work into a competition where it is judged by professionals in my media. And I didn't make it this year.
I've been working like a dog on this latest mosaic. It's not necessarily one of the biggest I've done, but it goes in a new direction for me. More realistic than previous works. This is the first in a series that I'm planning based on abandoned family snapshots. They may be old photos of family members or maybe even people that nobody remembers, but I like the composition and vintage look of the photo. In the mosaic I'm trying to evoke the feeling of the vintage photo and the odd sort of voyeuristic feel of some snapshots.
This is the full image and below is a detail.
This is the work I submitted to my first ever juried art show. It is for the Society of American Mosaic Artists convention in March of next year. If I'm chosen to participate it will hang in the Navy Pier in Chicago for March and April of next year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
My good friend Jennie recently showed me some pictures she'd taken of her friends at a gathering. I like Jennie's work. She's got a great eye and her lighting is thoughtful and accents the work. But one photo in general, really stuck with me. It was a photo of her friend Amy and the pose, the expression and the lighting all reminded me of a classic portrait. I thought it was beautiful, capturing an interesting expression. The image stayed with me and I decided that I would like to try to work a mosaic using it as the inspiration. Jennie gave me the photo to use and this is the result. Thanks Jennie. And thanks Amy. I hope you guys like it.
So, a while ago I found this supply of wooden houses for an unreasonably low price. I bought as many as I could imagine a) justifying the cost and b) justifying the space to store until I figured out what the heck I was going to do with them. I do tend to hoard my favorite supplies, something I'm trying to get over.
So I started out by painting a few of them and then they sat around in my studio for a while, trying to guilt me into working on them by being just cool little houses. But this week, this week I finally found the idea for a couple of them and now I'm sort of kicking myself that I didn't get more of the houses when I could.
Still, these are a great start.
This first one is called Sea House. I painted it, this mottled blue/green, intending all along for it to be a sea theme, but it wasn't until I added the papers at the back of the niches that I started thinking about what I wanted to put on the front panel. I am just so pleased with my saucy little mermaid.
The second I'm calling Tea House. I started out with an idea of using tea bag labels for shingles for the house. The tea pot handle and spout were a splendid accident and I love the miniature tea cup. I was very inspired by some recent research I've been doing into steampunk art and Victorian looking stuff.
This is right after I finished, but before I cleaned up. Sam put a chair and lamp in that corner and now it's a reading nook. I love that.
Here's a bit more detail. 
And here is the dragon's face, close up. I wanted to do a dragon that was a bit more fierce than friendly, but I guess I don't have it in me.
I love this smile. Still. This woman looks like she knew how to have a good time.
Who dressed these people? But how can you resist their clear appreciation of the beach.
This is the full image and below is a detail.
This is the work I submitted to my first ever juried art show. It is for the Society of American Mosaic Artists convention in March of next year. If I'm chosen to participate it will hang in the Navy Pier in Chicago for March and April of next year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
