“When I make art, it is hard for me to not reference my own experience as the subject matter.”

“When I paint, I know I’m saying something to myself. But, if it also says something to the viewer, I’ve achieved my goal.”

“The biggest success I’ve had, has been the blending of my artistic life with my family life.”

“Watercolor will body slam you to the ground more often than not!! But occasionally, one will work…you hit a home run!”

“I can’t remember when I didn’t appreciate the beauty of nature surrounding me.”

“Each major exhibition is a new lesson in creative problem-solving; curating a show stretches my abilities as a designer, scholar, educator, project-planner, collaborative thinker, manager, communicator, and handler of heavy yet delicate objects.”

“I came to this job as an artist with many artist friends, so serving the individual artist is a priority for me.”

“Enrich things, investigate them, pursue making as if you were charged to do it by a greater power.”

“I am one that can be inspired by structures I see or even scraps laying on a machine or wood shop floor.”

“My compositions are dependent on a portrayal of the simple things in American life.”

“I am an encourager and constantly reminded my students that ‘you can do this, just relax and have fun’.”

“To be seen, to be included, to see a reflection of one’s self is powerful and empowering.”

“To be able as an artist to tell the 'whole story' from conception to completion and do all the work, all of that excites me.”

“I’ve always had a strong identification with nature and am continually in awe of the depth of inspiration that it offers.”

“I think people are more susceptible to considering ideas that in other formats might be entirely unapproachable, but art creeps in through the senses and it changes people.”

“The void within both my sculptures and my paintings is very much a part of the art and the piece.”

“Street art gives me the freedom to express my weird imagination, add some color, and spark conversation within local communities.”

“There is so little that we can control in this life. Your art is one thing that you can control and use to communicate what is really important to you.”

“I find that bringing together contrasting materials allows them to talk to one another, creating a conversation in which each material has a distinct voice.”

“Working with photographs enables me to explore ideas of connection and shared pasts as well as to broaden my experience beyond my small sphere to share in the lives and loves of others.”