​My show, 'Reconstruct, Rebuild, & Rediscover' is now open in Idaho Falls, ID at the Willard Gallery! The show will run through Nov. 3rd, 2024.

​What do I want to say about this show? I feel like the artist's statement covers most of it which you can find here, however, this was something that was a significant achievement for me, especially at this time in my life.

How do I take 'Time to Treasure' the art of making?

When I first thought of this theme for the Gift of Time project I didn't know how I would relate this to my art process! But the more I thought about treasures, things started taking shape for me.​

When I talked in my last blog post about a treasure being inspiring, something that fills me with joy or touches my heart, I realized that is exactly what my art does for me!

​About 6 months ago I was really struggling as a parent. I felt like every day was unbearably hard and I couldn’t quite figure out why. Yes, I have two young kids but I know plenty of people with more kids than me that seemed to be handling things just fine.

As I was going through this time I also kept asking myself why do I keep doing this art stuff? What am I trying to accomplish with it? Am I helping anyone? Does it matter?

If I could give you a gift for February it would be 'Time to Spend With Loved Ones'.

​I've never really cared much for Valentine's Day so this month's theme might seem a little hypocritical. However, this has been on my mind over the past few months for two reasons.

It's an early summer morning. The sun is warming up the earth, the dust is damp with dew and smelling fresh along with the plants that are awakening from their nightly slumber. What is it about the morning light that draws us in so much? I'm not a morning person at all, yet here I am sitting and basking in this light.

I remember growing up I loved getting up early before everyone else to sit in our bay window and just watch the sun rise through the trees across the street. I would let the sun's rays warm up my arms, legs, toes, and then my face. I would just sit and stare and take it all in.

I admit that I don't do this often enough as an adult but I'm sure if I did all my days would be more pleasant.

The birds are chirping, waking each other up, and trying to find their morning breakfast. One landed on the sidewalk in front of me, bouncing around at tilting his head to look at me as if he had something to say. He bounced a few more times and then fluttered away.

As I watch the sun getting higher I start to see the ants coming out to warm themselves on the sidewalk as well. Aren't they a busy bunch? Always scurrying around. Their shadows are larger than they are as they make their march across the sidewalk.

What does all of this have to do with art? On the surface, absolutely nothing. But deep inside my soul is being filled and energized and this will influence my art. Taking these moments to slow down, to notice the details, to feel things, to pause, to reflect on the seemingly nothingness moments of life all fill my soul with peace and joy which allows me to connect with myself in a deeper way to pull out my best faculties to create with.

Ice and snow.

This has been a busy winter for mother nature here in southeast Idaho and I really do feel like I moved to the north pole. Several feet of snow, cold wind blowing snow drifts everywhere, temperatures in the -20's, and icicles as tall as me in some places. This little Nevada girl is not sure what to think.

I'm currently sitting in my car watching the sunset, listening to a song called, Watching the Storm by U137, and feeling all the feels. Although I don't like sitting in my car, it is fall and I don't want to sit outside in the chilled air.

I think I have enjoyed this fall more than any others I can remember in the past.

​I was recently going through some of my images when I came across this photo. I’ve looked at this photo dozens of times but it wasn’t until recently that I remembered the storm that followed right after I took this shot.

I’ve been thinking a lot about trusting time. What does that mean? For me it means being ok with we’re I am even when it’s not where I want to be.

In times past I’ve had moments where I really wanted something and I wanted that something now. But I had to wait. Often years later I would receive the thing I wanted so badly but in a different way then I expected.