I grew up in Reno, Nv, with an appreciation for the Sierra mountain range and high desert. In addition to hiking in the sublime eastern Sierra range and richly colored high desert, I interpret my love for range and desert by primarily painting in saturated colors with oils. My desire to capture wilderness locations in an expressionistic manner is to bring fresh, unique interpretations to various remote areas of the west. To counter balance my love for wilderness areas, I am also creating a series of collages, utilizing vintage children’s grammar illustrations and text. My themes deal with childhood anxieties coupled with childhood innocence. Some of my pieces include “Friendly Fallout” dealing with the atomic testing in the Nevada desert in the 1950’s, “Angst” which combines Nevada gaming and childhood dangers (like stranger danger), and loss of family income. I also have a piece entitled “Idols” incorporating social media and childhood. I have several other pieces as well. I have taught various art disciplines and mediums through the Nevada Museum of Art, Very Special Arts-NV, Wilbur D. May Museum, public and private school outreaches and programs, home school groups and in private settings. I was an elementary academic/art teacher in grades 4th through 6th grade in a private school for several years. I most recently taught art classes to elementary schools in the Tahoe region with Arts for the Schools, located in Truckee California. I have exhibited work at the Sheppard Gallery, Getchell Library, Truckee Meadows Community College, Wilbur D. May Museum, Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Raymond James Financial Services, Nevada Art Gallery, midtown Reno during Artown Downtown, and Art Doors sponsored by Doors to Recovery.