Scratchboard Artist

I grew up on a farm in northern North Dakota. There I was surrounded by nature in all her aspects; new life, growing things, and sometimes death. I loved the changing of the seasons. Each one bringing with it, its own experiences and lessons. This closeness and love of nature is what I try to express in my drawings and paintings.

Living in a rural area, gave me little chance for formal art training until I got into college. But this didn't stop me from plaguing my family with my prolific 'artistic creations' from an early age. I was able to take an oil painting class in High School and participate in the International Art Camp at the Peace Gardens in northern North Dakota. These classes opened up a whole new world of expression for me and I wanted more. I spent my first year in college taking several different art and humanities courses, trying to decide which direction to take my art career. An advertising arts course was the wisest choice for me, and after two more years, I earned my Bachelor's Degree. During this course, I discovered scratchboard and became fascinated by its possibilities.

Through the following years, I worked as a freelance as well as staff artist. I used many different mediums, but scratchboard was my favorite. Eventually, I began specializing in scratchboard and working toward a fine art career.

Over the many years I have worked as a professional artist, my work has appeared in many galleries, art shows, festivals, and fairs; garnering several awards. My work is in private and public collections around the world.

Artist's Statement

I create to satisfy a need I have to create. I create to communicate to you how I feel about the world and the universe around me. And I work to create more than a piece of artwork to hang on your wall. I want to create an experience that you'll come back to again and again.

I am a proud member of Worldwide Women Artists, an international collective of women artists showing and selling our original art through the worldwide web. As women artists, we give birth to our ideas in a variety of styles and media. We embrace the diversity of each other's work, celebrating the joy of creating our art and sharing it with the world.