about the artist
What’s your favorite medium?
Several! I can’t just choose one. Over time, I’ve discovered a love for pen drawings with watercolor and colored pencil, linocut printmaking, mosaic making, digital art making, and most recently ceramics. It really depends on the project and what I’m going for.
Where can I find your work?
I have artwork featured on my Go Imagine and Etsy shop. You may also find my work in person at a few locations in Northwest Florida, including Coastal Cat Cafe in downtown Pensacola, Artesano Boutique in Fort Walton Beach- around the landing, and at Artful Things in Niceville.
I also have a few mosaics on permanent display within the president’s office at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville.
What’s your background?
In 2012ish, my first job at an artsy coffee shop made me fall in love with the idea of opening a creative space for artists like me. When the shop closed in 2014, I wanted to make this dream a reality. An internship opportunity at Pensacola Museum of Art popped up, and I jumped on the chance to get my foot in the door into the museum industry. I also began volunteering at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Galleries (MKAC Galleries) at Northwest Florida State College. In 2015, I received a call from the director of the MKAC Galleries to be the gallery assistant. I definitely danced a bit when I got the call.
I worked for a bit over 6 years at the MKAC Galleries, and still volunteer there when I have the time. I left the museum industry to work other jobs that were a bit more profitable, but my experience in those fields made me realize I was made to be in the arts.
What are you doing now?
Today, I am the co-owner of the Crestview Artists Collective, an initiative to bring more arts and culture to the city of Crestview that spawned from my initial dream in 2014 with a couple of friends that have a similar dream.
My work directing the Collective has earned me a couple of opportunities. As a member of the Board of Directors of the Main Street Association of Crestview, I am in the process of developing an arts committee that will bring more projects to our community. I am also the artist-in-residence for Exchange at Crestview, a luxury apartment community managed by Gallery Residential. The artist-in-residence program has allowed me to further my goals of spreading art, expanding as an artist, and gives me the freedom to do this while not worrying about rent during my tenure.
In the future, I would like to work on opening my own studio and gallery space to come full-circle to 2012 when I was at the creative coffee shop, using my experience to create a professional space for Crestview to enjoy the arts.