While studying art abroad in both Cortona, Italy (2001) and Bayeux, France (2006), I discovered the joy of watercolors. It was easy to tote my small box of colors and brushes with me to city parks and historic sites. Creating small, quick paintings brought me a sense of satisfaction and captured the essence of my adventures. In France, I also made frequent trips to the patisserie where I would buy a pastry, paint a picture of it, and then eat it.

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During the Covid lockdowns of 2020, feeling isolated and restless, I thought back to those times in Europe as a happier, freer time. I longed to give myself that sense of adventure I used to have. I began to visit the local bakery and buy pastries to paint in watercolor again. That exploration of still-life desserts turned into also painting items from nature such as insects, butterflies, flowers, shells, and animals.

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As the world opened back up I began to travel again. When I'm traveling I get so much joy out of photography and taking notice of details other people may have overlooked. When I travel I also take my watercolors with me and paint plein-air scenes.  At home I work in my studio from photographs of previous trips I’ve taken, creating soft paintings of quiet places that bring me joy.