As a lover of color, and inspired by the nature that surrounds me, I utilize a combination of waxes and oil paints – both transparent and opaque- to convey my take on what I see as organic beauty. I strive to create a luminescent sense of depth and richness in my paintings by working layers of multiple patterns, colors and markings into the wax by building up each plane to produce the atmosphere I value from environments that catch my eye. I grew up right here in Bozeman, Montana, studied graphics at MSU, fine art in Missoula, and have been teaching for the last 21 years. Now I try to spend as much time as possible in my studio. Even though my family goes back 5 generations in Montana, I have never been excited by what people might call traditional western art; however, Montana does influence my art. While my work is composed of representational images of Montana landscapes, it also contains geometrically- inspired, yet unrefined patterns not commonly seen by the naked eye in the physical world. Amplifying biologically-inspired microscopic repetitions and forcing them to reside alongside the images we see as obvious in nature serves as a reminder of the importance of the parts to a whole which is how I hope viewers see my work – as a whole depiction of nature comprised of unexpected and appealing multiple ingredients. I live with my husband, Matt, Gertrude, my dog, and Brosef the cat. I have one grandson, Lars, and three kids: Sonia, Eli, and Clara.
