I love animals. I've been painting for over 20 years, and have painted over 300 different animals so far. My goal is to paint every type of animal in existence. There are lots of animals, so I have a long way to go!

But honestly, cats are my favorite. I have three cats (Karma, Panda Bear, and Mr. Samadhi), and most of my cat paintings are based upon them. I also have a disability, a genetic disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Basically, this means I have tendinitis in most of my joints. Needless to say, I have bad days. And my cats are always there for me. Years ago, my doctors recommended I do something to destress. So that’s why I started painting portraits. I chose my cats as subjects because they’re my favorite thing in the world. I quickly developed a real love for painting, almost as much love as I have for cats!

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My Mission

I feel blessed to have grown my art business into a full-time career. To be able to do what I love every day, despite my physical condition, makes me feel deeply thankful for my life. It also makes me want to pay it forward to the animals that have been the foundation of my career. There are so many animals starving, homeless, and in animal shelters. My mission is to try my best to help some of them.

That's why each year I donate artwork to animal charities to be auctioned off to help animals in need. The nonprofit organizations keep 100% of the proceeds from these sales.

I also love helping other artists. So I regularly make YouTube videos that teach artists how to run an art business, make art prints, sell at art fairs, and paint in acrylics. Art has transformed my life. And my goal is to help artists who are just starting out transform theirs in a similar way. Following one's passion is the best way to live a life... at least in my opinion :)


Art Gallery Tour (from 2017)

I live in Wichita, Kansas. I have a home studio and show my work at art fairs throughout the midwest. I also used to have an art gallery in Wichita’s Towne West Mall, but I had to close it in 2020 due to Covid and my health. Watch this TV interview I did with KSN news in my gallery.

I’m currently focusing on several bodies of work in various mediums. Variety is the spice of life, and I love to experiment with things in my art practice! So as you browse my website, you’ll see abstract paintings and surreal landscapes alongside my animal paintings. 

I paint animals in a colorful style I call visionary impressionism. My visionary impressionist paintings can pretty much be thought of as Impressionism 2.0. I paint the light and movement that I observe with my eyes, like the classical Impressionists did, but I also paint what I feel emotionally and sense intuitively. I kind of like to think I'm opening myself up to their essence and painting animals' souls.

Pictures of My Indoor and Outdoor Art Fair Booths

Indoor art fair booth
Outdoor art fair booth

I really love doing art fairs because it lets me connect with people in a way I can’t online. I’ve shown my work at over 100 art fairs throughout the Midwest, and it’s honestly one of the most fun parts of being an artist for me.

It's fun seeing people’s reactions when they see an animal painting that reminds them of their own pet. I also love getting to meet the collectors who bring my work home.

Seeing the paintings in person, at full color and scale, just feels different than seeing them on a screen. If you’d like to know when and where I’ll be setting up my booth next, make sure you’re subscribed to my studio club newsletter, because that’s where I always share my upcoming art fair dates first!

The Making of My Orangutan Painting of Ponji from Sedgwick County Zoo (no sound)

Since each painting focuses on a particular animal, and animals will not hold still for me to look at them while I paint, I begin by photographing them. I enjoy visiting zoos to take these photographs. After I choose the best photo, I print and tape it to my wall so that the animal can “model” for me. Then I paint each painting by hand with the acrylics.

I typically work in what’s called alla prima, which means painting wet on wet, with thickened paint to retain my brushstrokes and palette knife marks. I build the image in careful layers, spending time studying the small details that make each animal feel real. The shape of the eyes, the tilt of the head, and the slight expressions that often go unnoticed.

Color is always a deliberate choice for me. I use it to guide your eye and to create a sense of presence, not just decoration. I stop only when the painting feels complete and balanced, and when the animal finally feels like it is truly there on the canvas.

Photos with Customers and the Original Paintings They Purchased

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Education
I earned an Associate of Arts degree in 2-D Design when I was 18. Later, in my mid-20s, I returned to school to complete a Bachelor’s in Substance Abuse Counseling and a Master’s in Psychology.

That chapter of my life feels like a different lifetime though. As the years passed, I felt increasingly drawn toward creative expression. Now, in my mid-40s, painting animals has become the most honest reflection of who I am: grounded, present, and full of love for the natural world.

I’m a self taught artist, and I’ve spent years building my skills and my career. I paint frequently, and I take my studio practice just as seriously as any formal training. I’ve learned what it takes to grow as an artist by showing up, making mistakes, and pushing my work forward year after year. That long commitment and care is what shapes the quality and intention behind every painting I create.