I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2008 with a Bachelors in Art Education, minoring in Art History. My education gave me mastery in a variety of art media, such as acrylics, oils, fibers, metals, ceramics, & drawing media like charcoal, graphite, and ink, as well as a rich knowledge-base of time periods, styles, & aesthetics involved in art throughout time. I moved to Houston, TX where I worked at a daycare & taught dance to toddlers at day cares around the city. I moved back to Pennsylvania in 2010 where I substituted in 5 different school districts & taught Art History online for a community college. In 2012 I moved to Virginia Beach &, in 3 years, I taught art to k-12th grade students at 4 different schools, while also working for an after-school/summer camp. In 2015 I returned to Pennsylvania, still teaching Art History online, I began teaching k-8th grade art in one of Pittsburgh's public schools. I now work as a Teaching Artist at several places around Pittsburgh, working with k-12th grade students in the community. My work experience has taught me patience, flexibility, managerial skills, organization, & time-management, as well as how to communicate & collaborate with all ages & walks-of-life. I received my Digital Design Diploma at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in December 2016. I have been working with Adobe CS6 (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Lightroom, & Dreamweaver), as well as Notepad, Brackets, & Wordpress to develop & refine skills in web design, corporate identity/branding, publication, packaging, & digital illustration. Over the years I have fulfilled various art commissions to raise money for animal shelters & art galleries, decorate a waiting room of a doctor's office with local historical sites, & many for the homes of family, friends, & art-lovers.
Professional stuff aside...
I love attending live music & can twirl around with the best of them. My days are full of music, although I can't sing a tune or carry a beat if my life depended on it. :-P I'm a total empath, but that doesn't stop me from torturing my pets with my bad singing & dancing! I have a Corgi-mix, 2 cats, & 2 turtles that act as an amazing family, but pretty bad roommates. ;-) We live in a tiny house with a huge yard where I plant flowers, grill, & have fires in the firepit that I built. I frequently read, do Yoga, & take dance classes. I try to get to any sort of non-city-ish park as often as possible, as nature is where my soul is happiest. I enjoy things I'm terrible at, like disk golf, video games, snowboarding,...the list goes on & on! I take great pleasure in the small things in life & take tons of pictures everywhere I go. I have a close circle of life-long friends & an amazingly supportive, slightly crazy family. I just love life, laughter, happiness, & beauty.
To get to the point...
My art is definitely my life. I have been drawing since I was little, when my dad taught me to draw his childhood football mascot. Art is a means of journaling for me. It reflects my life experiences, feelings, opinions, & perspective. I can't say I have a style, as my art, like me, is always changing & evolving. I'm a total nerd & take great influence from artists throughout history. I love Pittsburgh's art scene & have met some amazingly talented artists since I've been here. I hope to be a part of it more & more, & continue to step out of my comfort zone, exploring who I am as an artist & a person.
Nice to meet you! :-) I'll get back to you as soon as I can.