Hi there! Thanks for stopping by!
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For as long as I can remember, I have been making “art” of some sort, and since the age of six or seven I have been creating surface pattern designs. I didn’t realize it at the time and it took me until two years into an art degree at the University of Wisconsin to discover textile design was a course of study and a fruitful career path. I switched majors immediately and have come a very long way since those first wallpaper designs with coordinating borders done on lined spiral notebook paper with crayons.
These days, I have passed the spiral-bound, lined notebooks and crayons on to my kids and focus on hand sketching and painting, paired with computer manipulation. I love using a variety of media – anything from a simple permanent pen to gouache to collage and am well versed in several software platforms to bring the sketches and paintings to life as a repeated surface pattern design or other forms of art. I aim to be a versatile designer, not only in my usage of varying media, but also with artistic styles. One day I may work on a traditional floral motif and the next it could be a modern take on an ethnic print. I aim to create designs as diverse as the sources of inspiration from which they come.
While I love the creativity involved in developing artwork, my experience designing print and pattern for a major clothing retailer gave me in depth knowledge of the more technical side of the industry too - creating repeats adhering to industry standards, color separation and reduction, creating colorways, and preparing artwork for production. As my varied professional history and extensive educational background demonstrate, I love to learn new things, and though I may have exhausted my formal education options, I still take on any opportunities possible to hone my skills, evolve as an artist, and try out new areas of interest. When I’m not creating or learning, you can find me hanging out with my kids, husband, and dog, doing crossword puzzles, traveling, planning my dream home, or enjoying a cold Spotted Cow.
I would love to hear from you, so please feel free to connect with me via social media or email if you have any questions or would like to work together. I am currently available for freelance opportunities and collaborative projects in surface design, graphic design, styling and art direction, color or trend research, or art education.