Fine Artist & Art Therapist
I was born and raised in upstate NY in a small town outside of Rochester. My education began at Monroe Community College in 1996, then graduated with my
Bachelors from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2001. As a side gig, I worked as a Freelance Portrait Artist and as a watercolor painter for 20 years, providing commission art work locally in Rochester. During that time, I also exhibited my art at galleries locally in Rochester, NY and in New York City. Prior to the birth of my son, I was a former member of the Rochester Art Club for 5 years and a member of the New York Figure Study Guild (run through Steve Carpenter’s Art Gallery) for 6 years.I specialize in portraiture and figure drawing. Mostly working with dry media; I provide pencil, charcoal and pastel portraits. Also abstract watercolor paintings, mixed media paintings, indoor murals and caricatures. I have some experience in working with ceramics sculpture and pottery.I get hired predominately for portrait and pet/animal commissions and watercolor landscape paintings.
After graduating with my Master's from Nazareth College in 2006, I worked as an Art Therapist at the Society for the Protection and Care of Children (SPCC) for 7 years (2006-2013). During my time there, I worked in various programs, specializing in trauma, grief & loss and child development using Art Therapy techniques for treatment with my clients. Between 2014-2020, prior to the pandemic, I facilitated grief & loss art therapy support groups through a local funeral home. Today I continue to provide grief and loss seminars at that funeral home on an annual basis. I continue to work full time as an Finance & Executive Administration Assistant position while taking commission portraits commissions on the side.