The Abstract Artist: Faith, Color, & Connection

Hey everyone! Welcome to my little digital art studio (aka my blog!). I'm so excited (and slightly terrified) to finally be starting this thing.

So, who's the person behind the pixels? Well, I'm an abstract realism artist. I know, it sounds like a fancy way of saying "I can't decide what I want to paint," but it's really about seeing the world in a slightly off-kilter, beautiful way.

Creativity's been my sidekick since I was a kid. The funny thing is, I didn’t pick up a paintbrush until about 10 years ago. I always told myself I couldn't paint because drawing looked like advanced trigonometry to me. Then a friend (who clearly didn't believe my excuses) gifted me a mountain of art supplies and gave me the "you have to try this" look. Six months later, I finally caved, and...bam! Hooked.

I started with acrylics, but recently, I've become obsessed with oils. They're so luscious and vibrant! I even went to Milan Art Institute, where I learned all sorts of fancy art techniques, like drawing (yes, I conquered trigonometry!) and mixed media.

For years, I mostly painted from reference photos I found online. But lately, I've been feeling this urge to ditch the rulebook and just play with my art. That's a big reason I'm starting this blog (and maybe a vlog, if I can figure out how to work the camera). I want to share my experiments, my triumphs, and my occasional "what was I thinking?" moments.

Now, for the serious-but-still-important stuff: I'm also a born-again Christian. My faith is a huge part of who I am, so you'll definitely hear me talk about it here. Jesus is my Savior, and I can't say enough how good God is.

On the personal front, I'm married to the most amazing guy (and I'm not just saying that to get brownie points!). We have two wonderful kids, three grandkids who keep us young (or at least feeling young-ish), and two grand-puppies who rule the roost.

I don't take myself too seriously, and I'm basically a big kid at heart. I love to laugh, have fun, and surround myself with color. Speaking of color, I adore almost all of them... except maybe brown and certain shades of orange. I mean, chocolate brown is okay. Probably because I love chocolate.

And here's something that's really important to me: Through my art, I want to express the connections we all have, no matter our background, religion, or anything else that people use to create division. I hope my art can connect with you on an emotional level, foster deeper relationships, and spread God's love. I also believe that art should be accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy. While some of my pieces may have a higher price point, let's connect! I'm happy to explore options so that everyone can enjoy original art in their home.

My hope for this blog is to create a space where we can share ideas, inspire each other, and maybe make a few new friends along the way. Leave a comment below and tell me what kind of art you're drawn to! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you'll join me on this colorful, slightly chaotic adventure!