I was born in the small town of Oneida, TN. After being adopted, I grew up in the Nashville/Franklin area.  I've had some hearing loss since childhood and developed moderately severe tinnitus. My hearing continues to deteriorate; having art as a focus has been very helpful way to cope with that and the tinnitus.

I enjoyed ceramics and oil painting in high school before I discovered my visual voice in photography. I continued to pursue photography in college, particularly printing. Mostly self-taught, I read Ansel Adams’ books and looked for workshops to pick up more skills. I studied fine art printing with John Sexton and Craig Stevens, nature photography with John Shaw, and platinum printing with Sal Lopes. I like to travel and try to combine photography and travel whenever possible, especially hiking.

After 35 years of photography, I took a break. I studied basket weaving with Susan Laswell (Heartsong Baskets, North Carolina) and thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. I also got hearing aids.  Adjusting to hearing aids and coming off the trail after five and a half months, were both important experiences for me. I was astonished with how busy the world is, how fractured our attention. All these endeavors recharged my creativity and influenced the direction of my art.

I returned to photography intrigued with uniting the tactile elements of basket weaving with my photographic prints. The added dimension invites the viewer into the image. I strive to instill a peacefulness in each piece. Nature photography is my primary source of inspiration, but shapes, texture, and light interplay in many places, majestic and ordinary. My images and vessels serve as meditation points, a way for the viewer to bring some contemplation and focus into their day.

Juried Shows

2024

Solo Show, Piedmont Craftsmens’ Guild, Winston Salem

2022

Piedmont Craftsmens’ Guild Show, Lowe Mill, Huntsville, AL

CraftHiltonHead2022, Art League of Hilton Head, Hilton Head SC - Honorable Mention Award

Backroads: Further on Ahead, Vestige Gallery, Pittsburgh PA

On Neutral Ground, Vestige Gallery, Pittsburgh PA

2021

Juror, Standards committee, Piedmont Craftsmen Guild

18th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, VRMC, Harrisonburg, VA

2020

60th Mid-States Art Exhibition, Evansville Museum

Tension of Opposites, Piedmont Craftsmens’ Guild - online show

Juror, Standards Committee, Piedmont Craftsmens’ Guild

Craft Nouveau, Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA - International show

Handcrafted, Imperial Centre, Rocky Mount, NC - Third Place Award

2019

56th Craft Fair, Piedmont Craftsmens Guild, Winston-Salem, NC

Art of the Image, the ArtWorks, Wilmington, NC

10th Anniversary Exhibition, National Basketry Organization, Bowling Green, KY

Sheetz, D’Art Center, Norfolk, VA

2018

55th Craft Fair, Piedmont Craftsmens Guild , Winston-Salem, NC - accepted as member

15th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, VRMC, Harrisonburg, VA

Wanderlust 2018, Artless Bastard, West DePere, WI

2017

Annual Juried Art Exhibition, VRMC, Harrisonburg, VA - Honorable Mention

Nude Nite, Orlando, FL