Over 80% of the earth’s biomass is comprised of plants. We share our world with them and yet we take their presence for granted. I’ve always felt plants are sentient beings with interesting lives of their own – ones worth observing and expressing. But it wasn’t until after a successful design career and raising my children that I turned to the subject of plants. I began studying botanical illustration, which resulted in a certification through eCornell. I also became a certified Texas Master Gardener through Texas A&M, during which time I started blogging about plants. I volunteered with community garden initiatives across the Dallas metroplex and then became a manager at a local garden center. This gave me greater insight about the life of plants, from their birth to death. I was intrigued by how they grow, their various behaviors and curious ways of thriving. It inspired me to pursue a creative expression for my knowledge, which is why I’m working towards a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Texas Dallas. I will be graduating in May 2027.

In creating my art, I use media that includes pencils, words, gouache, watercolors, ink, oils, photography, video, sound and digital manipulation. My work has been exhibited at the American Society of Botanical Artists Annual Conference, and I’ve received several commissions. At a recent RAW (Research, Art and Writing) Conference, I presented a participatory experience on the subject of trees and the human connections we make with them. Additionally, I teach design as a graduate student, and I’m a member of LabSynthe, a UT Dallas creative laboratory for electronic poetry.

As an artist, I focus on the beauty and whimsy of plants. Their presence in our lives is an eternally inspiring subject in my work.