About Me - I am a Bozeman, Montana fiber artist and Illustrator. I've spent much of my life working, playing and
being outside. Having returned from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji just before Covid19 settled in, I've found even
more inspiration than ever. I have a deep love of the outdoors, it's rejuvenating effect and its way of inserting itself
into my senses.
My fiber pieces contain a mix of realistic and illustrative styles combined with either abstract or more traditional fabric piecing and fabric manipulation techniques. I fold the newer into the traditional to tell my stories. I focus on the intimate and close-up details and personalities of my subjects.
Deciding not to settle on either illustration or fiber art alone wasn't hard, but instead, for me, it's the perfect compromise - I create stand-alone illustrations but I also, more often than not, incorporate my illustrations into my fiber pieces. I illustrate either directly on the fabric surface or I transfer works that I've done on paper or board, onto the fabric. I strive to show the beauty of life by focusing on patterns and rhythm in color and form, and I often choose to work with a limited palette.
Recently I have been reflecting on the way the natural world, outside of ourselves, influences the human subconscious and culture. I am currently exploring how, for instance, birds, with their ability to survive, migrate extreme distances and deal with elements extreme for humans, often seem to display qualities humans have historically admired or striven for, and how organisms like lichens or ancient, windblown trees are able to inspire a person to be patient and to persevere through tough times. As time passes my art increasingly explores this thought process. I am currently working on pieces, serious or whimsical, that explore such interconnections.
Each of my fiber pieces is embellished with beads, hand embroidery, found objects, and painted or drawn elements. I continue to experiment with different techniques, and every fiber piece reflects new knowledge. I have a BFA in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Printmaking (Intaglio), from MSU - Bozeman. I'm a member of Studio Art Quilt Associates and The Guild for Natural Science Illustrators.
being outside. Having returned from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji just before Covid19 settled in, I've found even
more inspiration than ever. I have a deep love of the outdoors, it's rejuvenating effect and its way of inserting itself
into my senses.
My fiber pieces contain a mix of realistic and illustrative styles combined with either abstract or more traditional fabric piecing and fabric manipulation techniques. I fold the newer into the traditional to tell my stories. I focus on the intimate and close-up details and personalities of my subjects.
Deciding not to settle on either illustration or fiber art alone wasn't hard, but instead, for me, it's the perfect compromise - I create stand-alone illustrations but I also, more often than not, incorporate my illustrations into my fiber pieces. I illustrate either directly on the fabric surface or I transfer works that I've done on paper or board, onto the fabric. I strive to show the beauty of life by focusing on patterns and rhythm in color and form, and I often choose to work with a limited palette.
Recently I have been reflecting on the way the natural world, outside of ourselves, influences the human subconscious and culture. I am currently exploring how, for instance, birds, with their ability to survive, migrate extreme distances and deal with elements extreme for humans, often seem to display qualities humans have historically admired or striven for, and how organisms like lichens or ancient, windblown trees are able to inspire a person to be patient and to persevere through tough times. As time passes my art increasingly explores this thought process. I am currently working on pieces, serious or whimsical, that explore such interconnections.
Each of my fiber pieces is embellished with beads, hand embroidery, found objects, and painted or drawn elements. I continue to experiment with different techniques, and every fiber piece reflects new knowledge. I have a BFA in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Printmaking (Intaglio), from MSU - Bozeman. I'm a member of Studio Art Quilt Associates and The Guild for Natural Science Illustrators.
Shows, Exhibitions and awards (This segment is being updated due to ongoing activity, so please stay tuned):
-- 2020 SAQA Trunk Show, Remnants I and II are currently showing.
-- 2020 SAQA annual Benefit Auction, Hope for Today was sold.
-- 2020 Gems of the Ocean, a juried exhibition held in Yachats, OR. The Longest Journey was accepted in.
-- 2020 Broad Spectrum, a SAQA Montana/Idaho fiber show exhibited in the fall at the Northcutt Steele Gallery at Montana State University, Billings. Rooted and Luna were accepted in. Stay tuned, these pieces will potentially be exhibiting in upcoming shows along with pieces by other artists from the Broad Spectrum show.
-- 2020 Backyard Escape, a multi-venue, All Settled In is currently on exhibit at the Virginia Quilt Museum, Fairfax, VA.
-- 2019 Juried Art Quilt Show, "Sacred Threads", Herndon, VA. Exhibit dates: July 11 - July 28, 2019. Exhibited was "The Longest Journey".
-- 2019 Studio Art Quilt Associates (Montana/Idaho) traveling "Trunk Show". Exhibited is "Remnants I".
-- 2019 Juried Online Exhibition, "Botanicals", hosted by the Light, Space and Time Online Gallery; I received a Special Mention award for "Mixed Berries".
--2018-2019 "Transformations - Three Artist, Three Journeys" November 2018 - January 29, 2019 at Zoot Enterprises Gallery of Bozeman. I exhibited colored pencil works along with my fiber wall hangings. The exhibition venue required an application and jury process. This was a three-artist exhibition (with Bozeman fiber artists Carol Kimble and Katy Nygard).
--2017 Studio Art Quilt Associates "Trunk Show", an extended traveling show. Being exhibited: "Eat, Honey". Details at www.saqa.com/
--2015 Yellowstone Park Foundation's Park's centennial initiative, the coloring book, Color it Wild, I was selected to provide a two page spread. I called it After the Fires.
-- 2105 Juried Exhibition, "2015-2016 Montana Art Mobile"; Exhibit dates: Fall 2015 - Spring 2016. A Montana Arts Counsel traveling exhibition, bringing the arts to rural schools and other institutions across the wide state of Montana, to allow rural kids and others that don't have the opportunity, to view up-close and discuss original, contemporary artworks created by Montanans. Exhibited: "All Settled In".
--2014 Juried Online Exhibition, "Botanicals", Hosted by the Light, Space and Time Online Gallery; Special Recognition was awarded for "Summer Fruit".
--2014 Traveling Exhibition, comprised of several wall hangings chosen from the 2013 juried "Sacred Threads" Show in Herndon, VA. Included "Rest". -- The show traveled from Herndon, VA to QuiltFest Destination Savannah, GA. From there it went to the Denver National Quilt Festival and then finally on to Seattle, WA, where it was included in the "Art of the Sacred" Exhibition.
-- 2014 Juried Exhibition, "2014-2015 Montana Art Mobile"; Exhibit dates: Fall 2014 - Spring 2015. Exhibited: "Cloud Bears".
-- 2013 Juried Art Quilt Show, "Sacred Threads", Herndon, VA. Exhibit dates: July 10 - July 28, 2013. Exhibited "Rest". (This piece was then accepted into a traveling show, traveling from Herndon to Savannah GA, to Denver CO, to Seattle WA, and then home.)
-- 2011 Annual Juried Show, Danforth Gallery, Livingston, MT. Juror was Ray Campeau. Exhibit dates: July 21 - August 19, 2011. Exhibited "Cloud Bears".
-- 2011 Annual Artist's Market, Bozeman, MT, with a group of local artists. I participated for several years in this venture, starting in about 2004.
-- 2010 Juried Fiber Arts show, "Community Threads and Yarns" held at the Emerson Cultural Center in Bozeman, MT. Juror was Ellen Ornitz. Exhibit dates: August 20 - December 23. Exhibited: "Rusty Pelicans" (this piece subsequently sold).
I have works in these publications -- To be completed...