“Most projects I’ve worked on involved acrylics, so I’d say working with acrylic paint is my primary medium. I love the convenience of carrying a few pencils and a sketch pad in my purse, though, and I’ve been sketching since I was little, so it’s definitely a tie between the two.
Being chosen to paint a rain barrel for the Elkhart River Restoration Association’s rain barrel auction was a pivotal moment in my life as an artist. That was when I realized I could use my hobby to help raise awareness and funds for causes that are important to me. That and the storm drain art project are two things I’m really proud of.
The theme for the city’s 2022 storm drain art submissions was “Dreaming of Clean Water: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act.” My first thought was that clean water should be more than just a dream. That’s how I arrived at this sleeping girl with her hair pouring into the drain like water. The way her dreams of clean water are trickling down represents my hope that this project kicks off a trickle of awareness for the storm drains and their direct connection to our waterways.
Goshen is my hometown, so it’s always going to be meaningful to create and share my work here, especially when it involves using what skills I have to help our community.
Music is absolutely my main creative focus right now. I lost touch with it somewhat during college. But when the pandemic kicked off, I picked up a guitar and started writing again, and it struck me that this giant part of my life had been missing.
I also realized that before that point, I had been too much of a perfectionist to record anything. Now I’ve learned not to be so precious with it all.
Life is short, and I want to share the music I’ve been working on because it’s truly been the most creatively fulfilling thing I’ve ever done.”
