My original inspiration comes from the small Midwestern town I grew up in, the women in my family, and the way needlework was a tie that bound them throughout generations.


From a young age I was taught that needlework, quilting, and rosemaling were acceptable forms of artistic expression because they were utilitarian. As I went on to paint on my own, I decided to break free from the conformity of the former generation, but the appreciation remained. Needlework and stitching became symbolic to me, representing a feminine narrative and a link to previous generations that lead to the creation of my work. I try and use the stitch as an intentional artist’s mark – not as a utilitarian element, but rather a visual means of expression.


Using paper dolls and their clothing, I portray traditional socially acceptable figures that young children play with in order to understand and role play "real life", but in a much idealized manner. Often the clothes have arms and legs but no faces, or their faces are covered by masks. This leaves ambiguity, letting viewers project themselves or someone of their choice on to the figures. Through the combination of these nostalgic artifacts I have tried to construct narratives speaking of the complexity of the human relationships, birth, procreation, and death of the members of my small town. Each of these works is meant to be a narrative of a period in an individual’s life and my emotional response to it.


In the current series of work that I have been painting, I incorporate multiple types of media to communicate within each painting. In each piece I try not to limit myself in my use of materials but rather try to explore them. The work is constructed in multiple layers creating depth and an intimacy with the viewer. Although each story is based on actual events, the use of recognizable imagery and everyday objects leaves the viewer to interpret the ‘meaning’ of the piece in their own way. In my most recent pieces I explore the idea of gender association within the character of the animal. Most of my work juxtaposes idealized beauty with a seemingly non-aggressive symbol, but because of the placement and interaction of the images a conflict is illustrated and a tension is created.