For as far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to be an
artist. I was brought up in a very creative family that believed and
nurtured the idea that you need to do what truly makes you happy. At
home my mother was always working on something creative. That was
considered a norm in our house. We never had a clean and pretty dining
room table except for the holidays.
In High School I took as many regular and independent study art classes
that I could. At home my mother was always creating through quilting,
liturgical decorating, flowers for weddings and a life-size
paper-mache’dragon. Art surrounded the family.
I was accepted at Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee through the
Frederick Layton Art Scholarship. His legacy and the vision of the Art
Director Sister Thomasita Fessler had a profound impact on my art
career.
After college I worked in various creative fields such as kiln operator,
gallery assistant, frame shop manager and visual display assistant.
They were all jobs that have helped develop many aspects in my current
field of mosaic work.
After having my first child I decided to stay at home and work in my
home studio. I began creating small watercolors in shadowboxes with
found objects. Outdoor art shows were my first attempt at selling the
watercolors. Around this time I also became fascinated with mosaics
using china shards and found objects. I explored the mosaic medium
learned through diligent self study how to manipulate this medium.
I have continued to produce mosaics in many forms for the last twelve
years, developing new techniques and methods along the way. I continue
to sell through art shows, galleries and shops. I also have taught many
workshops and classes. I developed an artist in residence program
through the Lomira School District for elementary and middle school
children. I currently teach mosaics at The Wisconsin Museum of Art
(formerly the West Bend Art Museum) and am a part-time framer at a local
frame shop.
All of these experiences have collectively brought me to a
self-realization that mosaic art is my found medium.