My Story

My artwork and textile designs are primarily inspired by my passion and love of nature. I study and paint flowers that I collect and dry. My process involves painting, sumi ink drawing, and photography to develop motifs and patterns for printed and knitted textiles.

I received my BFA in Printmaking and my MFA in Textile Design at Rhode Island School of Design.

I picture the flowers in my studio engaging in a secret love affair or having a hush-hush conversation as I leave them entwined in each other’s stems. The magenta and purple layers of sheer fabric gives them the opportunity to intermingle in private. The peach colored tulips are whispering to each other and converse with the drying black dahlias as their petals droop and graze each other’s soft luxurious petals. The daisies wondering eyes look over in envy of the exotic snapdragon drying on the wall. I often wonder what happens when I leave them alone for a few minutes or over the course of the night. Do they recollect of the first time they met each other’s leafy stalks? Do they wish to be closer as night falls? Do they feel pain as their petals wrinkle and droop with time?

I arrange and rearrange the flowers in the vase so they can connect with one another. I pin the drying flowers next to the younger blooms to create different shades and glow of color. I want the flowers to communicate and get to know each other as I paint them in their theatre setting. I imagine whispers and laughter in a hallway echoing off the walls. The leaves droop and hang with decay. I position the spotlight to enhance the vibrancy of each petal. The fiery red orange is in tune with the soft peach highlight. They feel the warmth of the sunlight as I observe the light shadows in the daylight and the spotlight in the evening. I paint the flowers slowly dying in the vase gasping for fresh water. I reimagine the bulbous creatures coming back to life as I paint their memory.