Flower Impressions
I painted this still life while teaching a lesson on impressionism styles.
9"x12" acrylics on canvas paper January 25, 2021 |
Painted Splendor
This was my first skyscape painting. I painted this along side one of my students while teaching the art lesson.
9"x12" acrylics on canvas paper January 13, 2021 Purchase Prints |
Fall Haze
I painted this in one evening after I was hit with a sudden inspiration from watching a painting video. I taped the outline of the leaf and filled it in with a thick white paint, using a pallet knife, to get a plaster type texture. Once that dried, I painted the fall scene with acrylics. As a final touch, I painted me walking my dog, Fenna. I captured my favorite season, weather, and mood in this piece to create an enchanting finished result.
11"x14" acrylics on canvas November 29, 2020 |
Golden Hour
This is a painting of the Walnut Street Bridge in my hometown of Chattanooga. I began this painting using acrylics and finished parts of it digitally on a computer. I love combining my paintings with digital art, it creates a different feel and style. The water, aquarium, and sunny glow were done on computer while everything else was painted on canvas. Golden Hour is one of my favorite pieces I created this year.
16"x20" multimedia November 18, 2020 Purchase Prints |
Cafe de la RosaI only used coffee and a Sharpie to make this piece. While my usual style is realism, I do enjoy cutting loose from that on occasion to create a fun simple painting like this. It was my first attempt with this type of line drawing, and I really enjoyed it. I used three different strengths of coffee for the background, having no idea if it would work. Thankfully, it turned out beautifully.
Coffee splatters and sharpie drawing on 12"x24" canvas May 14, 2020 Purchase Prints |
Sunset at St. Mary's
This is a painting of St. Mary's Cathedral in Limerick, Ireland founded in 1168. For my senior tour with my choir we traveled to Ireland and sang at various locations throughout the country. St. Mary's was one of my favorite places where we performed. Prior to the tour, our choir learned songs in Russian, Italian, Spanish, French, and German. Before our performance in the cathedral, it was incredible to hear all the different languages spoken by the tourist, many of which were the languages of our songs. That performance was one I will never forget, and so to capture that moment I painted it on a wooden panel. I used acrylic for the paint, and used modeling paste for the cross and rock wall to capture that ancient stone texture that was so common in Ireland. I do very much hope to visit that beautiful country once again some day.
11"x14" wooden panel June 5, 2020 Purchase Prints |
The Humminghorse
I created this in today’s live art session, themed fantasy creatures. This was a creature I created in elementary school. I had to think of a hybrid animal, and then write a paper about its habitat, food, personality, and physical description. I came up with the Humminghorse. Now, back then the Humminghorse was extremely docile and small, but things evolved.
I could probably think of a better name for this animal now, but as a little kid that was as good as it got. The name stuck. As the name suggests, this creature imitates the horse and the hummingbird. It is larger than the average horse, and has a slightly longer neck. The Humminghorse is coated in a protective layer of hard scale-like feathers which gradually turn to white hair. This naturally produced iridescent armor and red breast plate, helps the Humminghorse in times of war. It’s wings are faster than the average hummingbird, and produce a loud thrumming noise. It’s call is a high, ear-piercing whistle during war to briefly incapacitate the enemy before using its sword-like beak to kill them. It’s other call is a more peaceful, melodic hum. Their long elegant feather tails can be deceptive. The knife like feathers of the tail can be spread and draped, dragging behind the creature in a regal heir, but it can quickly form into a long slicing weapon if needed. This creature’s most desirable quality is it’s echolocation, which is used to detect and find enemies miles away. The Humminghorse is not easily tamed, but once it is, it forms a permanent bond until death. The most common companions to these creatures in war are the sagittarii elves. When it is not in battle, a tamed Humminghorse can be extremely gentle and understanding. It’s sustenance comes from giant flowers native to it’s planet. Thank you Andres Sarabia for suggesting this theme for our video! I had so much fun with this! Acrylics on 6"x9" canvas paper May 9, 2020 |
Eye on the Sparrow
My first self portrait painting. This is me as a child holding a sparrow.
Acrylics on 16"x20" canvas May 7, 2020 |
The Wascally Wabbit
Fluid acrylics and acrylics on 12"x12" canvas
May 2, 2020 |
Piercing Darkness
I created this piece during the beginning of the 2020 pandemic. For about a month I scheduled live art sessions with various artist friends two days a week. I had them pick the theme and we would proceed to paint something that was inspired by that theme. This session's theme was “Hope”. I painted this image from my mind using acrylic and metallic paints.
Acrylics on 12"x12" canvas April 30, 2020 Purchase Prints |
The Edge of Glory
In the summer of 2018 my family and I took a youth group to Farmington NM on a mission trip. Afterwards, we drove to see the Grand Canyon for the first time. Before the trip I had packed my paints, an easel, and a canvas, knowing I was going to paint the canyon. When we arrived there, I found a beautiful overlook, Hopi Point, facing the sunset. The vastness and colors of this glorious part of God's creation took my breath away, I can't even describe all the things I felt when I sat down and picked up my brush to begin painting. Unfortunately, we were not there long enough to allow me to finish the painting. And now, a year and a half later after completing my list of commissions, I was able to finish this treasure.
In the painting I used a slightly more modern style from my usual pieces. I wanted to capture all the colors, textures, and layers in the rock by overemphasizing everything. This is definitely one of my new favorite paintings. 12"x24" Acrylic on Canvas November 30, 2019 Purchase Prints |
Will I Ever Know
I was asked by a friend of mine who is the singer in the band Track 145 to design and paint their first album cover! I was so honored that they would ask me to do that. Thank you Track 145 for trusting me to design this for you. A video of the process of this painting/picture is linked in the Videos page!
Watch speed painting video! Digital Art/Acrylic Painting September 13, 2019 |
Eagle
This is an eagle I did in pen while teaching an art lesson. It was a great lesson on exercising freehanding without relying on an eraser to fix your mistakes.
September 11, 2019 |
The Hunter
After many hours, weeks, and months, this painting was finally completed! I painted this for my grandpa, and it was inspired by one of his German Shorthair Pointer hunting dogs. In the reflection of his eye there are two quail flying over the field of golden grass. I have to say the hardest part of this piece was painting the hair. Hair makes me “ADHD” apparently. It was also really taxing on my muscles, so after finishing a tiny section everything in me wanted to do something else more interesting. All that to say, my grandma, who requested it, waited patiently for this painting for two years while I got my act together. Because I poured such an extensive amount of time and energy into this piece, I settled on a simple title, The Hunter.
It was a very beautiful day when I finished my signature on the bottom corner of this painting that I now love dearly. Watch speed painting video! 16"x20" Acrylics on Canvas August 13, 2019 Purchase Prints |
Skylar's Sunflower
This piece took me 5 1/2 hours and I loved every second of it. When I was commissioned to do this painting, I immediately knew what style I would use. I have been wanting to venture into a more loose impressionist style of painting, to take a break from all the realism. This painting definitely allowed me to do that. This was a birthday present for my friend Skylar.
18"x24" Acrylics on Canvas May 24, 2019 Purchase Prints |
Hope
After a short 3 hours, this painting was completed. This was another one of my emotional paintings like Out of Darkness. They say a picture is worth more than 1000 words so I’m not going to try and put too many words to this picture. But whatever you’re going through whether it’s shame, fear, sorrow, anger, or regret, know that it is just for a season. It is OK to feel those emotions, just don’t let them define your life and who you are. The season will not last forever. I promise you it is not the end of the world no matter how bad it may get. Don’t give up on God because God has never, and will never give up on you. So, sit down. Rest. Feel those emotions. Pray. Then get back up again. March on soldier!
3'x2' Acrylics on Canvas May 26, 2019 Purchase Prints |
Chickadees
A few months ago I was asked by a few people if I had ever tried wood burning. At the time I had not, but it made me want to try it out. Here is my first wood burning piece! I made it for my dad because he frequently announces the sighting of the Chickadees when they come to visit the feeder. I saw two Chickadees outside my window today, hence the inspiration.
8"x8" Wood burning February 27,2019 Serenity
I started painting this the day after I injured my knee, to help get my mind off it, and after 14 hours of work it was completed. What inspired this piece is personal and something I have never really told anyone before. My tremors are a constant thing I have to deal with, and the only time my body can be completely motionless is when I'm asleep. So I have never known what it feels like to be still, sleep takes that experience from me. However, in the past few months I have learned how to still my tremors when I go to a certain place in my mind. I wouldn't call it dozing, (because this happens before that) but I can get into that mental state best when I am tired. I am still fully conscious, thinking, and aware of my surroundings, but my body is completely still. It feels as though I couldn't move a muscle even if I wanted to. And it is absolutely the most amazing thing I have ever felt! I have learned how to lengthen that mental state before sleep takes me, or something disturbs me. When something gets me out of that trance its like a jolt, even though I'm not scared, my tremors just jump back all at once. The best way I can describe this state of mind is floating in deep heavy water.
'Serenity' is a different style than my usual, though I don't know what you would call it. Everything is significant in the painting, but one of the most important is the distinctive colors. While the water is cool relaxing tones, the warmer tones coming from above the water represent the heat and constant energy of life. The heat is still there, but the water is the peaceful interlude. Watch speed painting video! 12"x 24" acrylic on canvas January 22, 2019 Purchase Prints |
If I Were A Bird
This is Jay the bird. I was commissioned to illustrate a children's book recently titled, If I Were A Bird. This will be my first book illustration project.
Watercolor/Digital Art February 6, 2019 Living Water
Portraits have proven to be the most challenging for me to paint. This painting was a commissioned piece I started a year ago. The theme of the painting is based on the Biblical account of the Samaritan woman who encountered Jesus at the village well. The image of the woman and water came to me suddenly, bringing with it inspiration, excitement, and determination; however, it did not last. The struggle and irritation of getting the skin tones with it's blues, greens, yellows, purples and reds just right was overwhelming. I soon gave up, walking away from it for several months. However, it was always pressing at the back of my thoughts. I knew it needed to be finished. I finally sat down and began working on it again. The desire was not there, but I pushed myself to do it and sought God for strength. Motivation and inspiration flooded back, allowing me to resume the work. This painting taught me that I cannot waste time waiting for motivation to find me. If I do, months and even years will go by completely wasted. I need to take the first step and trust God, even when I do not feel like it. He will meet me, and motivation will follow.
16"x20" acrylic on canvas December 7, 2018 Purchase Prints |
It is Well with My Soul
I painted this for a family who is going through one of the worst things I can imagine. The painting is titled, “It is Well with My Soul”. Painting helps me process through my emotions and gives me a lot of time with my thoughts. I have experienced too much death in one week, I feel in a way like I’ve been choking in it. The weight of it has been unreal. The pain and sorrow it causes can completely consume you if it is allowed, making one feel hopeless. Thankfully death has already been defeated. While there is time for mourning, it will pass because life is still stronger than death. Rest, peace, and comfort will come making it well with my soul.
8”x8” painting on wood, acrylic and modeling paste. September 30, 2018 |
Autumn's Sunrise
This was a customized acrylic painting that took 52 hours to complete. While this horse is not mine, I wanted to make it personal by adding a few of my favorite things into the picture. I love light orbs, horses eyes, and their velvet muzzles, so I made those the focal point of the painting. By adding the frosty air and golden colors, it suggests a sense of the crisp weather that accompanies my favorite season. This piece was definitely a challenge for me. I have only painted one other realistic horse, and that was several years back. Autumn's Sunrise is definitely a new favorite of mine.
Acrylic on Canvas September 16, 2018 Purchase Prints |
Out of Darkness
I was going through a rough time when I painted this. I was struggling with physical pain, self doubt, and depression. I was angry, so I didn't want to think about the brush strokes, I just wanted to paint. I used mediums that I had rarely used before, metallic paint toward the top, and sand mixed in towards the bottom. Originally, all the horses were going to be black, focusing more on using the shadows to shape them. While painting this, God reassured me that there was still hope if I continued to trust His plan for my life. That is the significance of the single white horse, trust and hope. Because he is leading, the black horses must submit and follow. I will forever treasure this piece and it's meaning to me.
16"x20" mixed Media (acrylics and sand) on canvas November 7, 2017 Purchase Prints |
Wings of Blue
Wings of Blue was my first oil painting. Using my fingers instead of brushes gave the painting a thick and rich texture. Having never finger painted before made this piece a bit of a struggle in the beginning. My hands did not want to cooperate and started hurting, but pushing through the pain was worth it in the end.
Butterflies are my symbol. As a little girl my mom called me her “butterfly girl”. Starting out as caterpillars, crawling around eating leaves, and struggling to climb over blades of grass, while not knowing what the future has in store resonates with so many aspects of my life. Then comes transformation. Everything changes. While their size remains the same, perspective and abilities have increased. Their once small plant-world becomes limitless sky. In order to enjoy all the benefits of this new life, the butterfly's past struggles were necessary. This piece is very close to me because it was literally made with my hands and because of the symbolism, it serves as an encouraging reminder to me. Oil on canvas. Finger painting October 2, 2017 Purchase Prints |
Indigo and Lilies
This piece was painted with watercolor pencils in my moleskine art journal. I started this journal a year ago, hoping it would help my artistic inspirations and allow me to quickly sketch or paint ideas from my mind without worrying too much about perfectionism.
One of my favorite birds is the Indigo Bunting. I like using complementary colors as much as I can in my art, so I added the orange Daylilies. I wanted this painting to be calm and serene, so I lightly painted cool colors into the background. Watercolor pencil and pen on paper July 25, 2017 Purchase Prints |
Eyes of the Wild
This piece was painted with watercolor pencils in my moleskine art journal. I started this journal a year ago, hoping it would help my artistic inspirations and allow me to quickly sketch or paint ideas from my mind without worrying too much about perfectionism.
While working on this tiger, I wanted to capture it's wildness and intensity in the eyes. The watercolor pencils allowed me to easily achieve this and the details in his face. Watercolor pencil on paper May 29, 2017 Purchase Prints |
The Fight for Flight
Watercolor pencil on paper
May 23,2017 |
Fading Beauty
This piece was painted with watercolor pencils in my moleskine art journal. I started this journal a year ago, hoping it would help my artistic inspirations and allow me to quickly sketch or paint ideas from my mind without worrying too much about perfectionism.
Butterflies are my symbol. As a little girl my mom called me her “butterfly girl”. Starting out as caterpillars, crawling around eating leaves, and struggling to climb over blades of grass, while not knowing what the future has in store resonates with so many aspects of my life. Then comes transformation. Everything changes. While their size remains the same, perspective and abilities have increased. Their once small plant-world becomes limitless sky. In order to enjoy all the benefits of this new life, the butterfly's past struggles were necessary. This serves as an encouraging reminder to me. Watercolor pencil on paper May 20, 2017 Purchase Prints |