Painting for me is almost a need. I can't NOT paint. It allows my brain to think through problems while my hands move.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
Most of my commissioned work centers on pet portraits, often helping people hold onto a piece of a beloved companion after loss. I’m drawn to the drama of high-contrast black and white, using white acrylic on black canvas to explore depth and light. Recently, I’ve shifted to realistic, tightly cropped human portraits—searching for the story in each face and capturing emotion in a raw, intimate way.
Where do you find inspiration?My inspiration comes from everyday people—especially the elderly, where time is written across their faces in lines and expression. I’m also influenced by Native American cultures of the Dakotas and the strength and simplicity of their traditional ways of life. Each portrait becomes a search for story, where more than one narrative can exist, inviting the viewer to imagine and connect. I also love animal portraits on black canvas that allow colors to pop.
What would you do with $25,000?Winning $25,000 would help turn a long-held dream into reality—moving south to create a small homestead where my husband and I can live simply and intentionally. It would be a place to invite our adult children to gather and reconnect, while also rescuing and caring for small farm animals, building a slower, more meaningful life rooted in creativity, hard work, and genuine connection away from the noise of everyday life. Where we could work hard for ourselves, not a big company.
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