I grew up in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and graduated from both Oskaloosa High School and William Penn College. After moving to Nashville, Tennessee, I worked with high school marching bands—sharing skills I learned as part of Oskaloosa’s Band of the 70s and 80s. A few years later, I completed the graphic design program at Nashville State and began a career in design.

 

Over the years, I’ve worked in advertising, children’s publishing, art licensing, and branding, and taught graphic design at O’More College of Design, Watkins College of Art, and Nashville State.

 

In 2011, I took my first expressive art class at Art & Soul Studio, and it changed everything. I’ve been painting, scratching, and building ever since. I’ve had solo shows and have exhibited in group shows for over a decade. For the past 11 years, I’ve also taught Art & Soul’s Creative Art Discovery Practice, helping others explore their creative voice.

 

When I was seven, my neighbor—artist Anne Morris—told me I should have my own booth at Art on the Square. That moment planted a seed. My creative path has always been rooted in Oskaloosa, shaped by the people and place that first nurtured my love for art. Everything I make is, in some way, a reflection of that deep connection.