I have always had a passion for art. Some of my earliest memories are of drawing and making crafts. I studied art and art history at SUNY Geneseo and worked for a local Syracuse artist and print shop after graduation. I moved to San Diego in 2000 and began working at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park (now Safari Park) as a volunteer coordinator, but I was always using my artistic skills to enhance my work. I was lucky enough to get to design the holiday banners used at both parks, as well as the yearly holiday card that was send to supporters of the department I worked for. My husband and I moved to North Carolina, where I taught some classes at a paper craft store and also ran a side business doing Wedding calligraphy. After our son was born, we wanted to move back to the Syracuse area to be closer to family. I restarted my career in Volunteer Management and have been working for Helping Hounds Dog Rescue for over 11 years.
It was the supportive staff and volunteers at HHDR that encouraged me to pursue my pet portrait business; many hiring me to complete portraits of their dogs, and even a horse! These kind people, as well as my family and close friends, have been a tremendous inspiration to keep putting myself out there to find more clients. I truly love doing paintings of animals. While I have mainly done dog portraits, I can happily complete a portrait of any animal. I have experience in doing architectural drawings, landscapes and botanicals (capturing special scenes from vacations). I have even done illustrations used in books. I do not do portraits of humans though!
I am also an avid knitter and knitwear designer. I have had some of my designs on the runway at Vogue Knitting Live in NYC and have a few patterns published. I love making things, so I am almost always creating. It is rare for a day to go by without me knitting or drawing!
My husband and I have been together since high school and we love working on art together, traveling, trying new restaurants, and just relaxing at home together. Our son is our greatest joy and the best thing I ever ‘created’!
