Originally from rural southern Kentucky, I spent the first part of my childhood running wild and free, barefoot, in the countryside, and the resulting love of nature compelled me to major in Environmental Studies at Beloit College. I later studied botany as part of the Agroecology Master’s Program at UW-Madison, and while my OCD kept me from completing the program, there is no such thing as a reformed botanist. Consequently, this long standing love of nature and flora leads me to frequently incorporate plants into my artwork.
While art and Nature have always been important to me, it has become apparent in recent years that they are two of the only arenas in which I can successfully tackle the severe, treatment-resistant OCD that has plagued me since childhood. Unlike traditional treatment modalities, art provides adequate motivation for me to ignore my obsessions and overcome my compulsions, albeit temporarily, and I simply feel safe and at peace in Nature. Attempting to adequately capture Nature’s infinite beauty is a never ending challenge that I thoroughly enjoy, and I hope that my reverence shines through in my work.
ArtWorking
ArtWorking is a Madison-based nonprofit program that provides career development and support for artists and entrepreneurs with disabilities.
ArtWorking is a Madison area nonprofit program that provides career development and support for artists & entrepreneurs with disabilities.