I grew up moving from place to place but consider myself a good “Southern Girl” from Baton Rouge, Louisiana where much of my family still resides. Most of my family, being scientists and technical types, do not understand why I paint nude women but seem to be content with the fact that it makes me happy. I now live with my husband, two cats and baby girl in Seattle, WA. I received my B.A. from the University of Washington in June, 2001 and have been painting free-lance ever since. My work has shown at the Echo Gallery in Chicago, IL with the likes of Olivia in a joint show with the renowned Robert Bane Gallery from Los Angeles, CA. My series of paintings called the "Juicy Fruits" also showed at the Echo Gallery in a show with "Heavy Metal" great, Lorenzo Sperlonga and the famous Hildebrandt brothers. Pieces of my work have also been collected by the MOP Pin-up gallery in Readlyn, Iowa as well as by private collectors all over the U.S. and abroad.
Artist's Statement:
I believe that what makes a woman beautiful lies not only on the outside, but must also radiate from the inside. Therefore, I find my favorite subjects to paint are those women whose distinct personalities I already know. Often it is not your run of the mill super model that elicits a physical or emotional response but rather, the woman you see in your local coffee shop. The mere fact that they are "real" and attainable makes their image more seductive and personal. All of the women that I paint, including myself, are women who truly exist in the world. They are soft and supple, opinionated and bitchy, inviting and compassionate, strong and smart. Most of all, they are not victims but instead, proud and unashamed of their sexuality. To me, that is the ultimate form of feminism.
