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  I have painted and drawn for most of my life; blessed and encouraged by loving parents and now guided and led by God. My goal as an artist is to be God’s artist.  My original and professional background is in animation and drawing.

I went to Georgetown University where I studied Business and Marketing, followed by Sheridan College in Canada to study further study animation and drawing.

I worked as a professional artist for many years and I paused for brief 21 years to raise a family and grow up alongside my husband and four children.   My work experience spans from post production, gaming, Walt Disney Feature Animation and a few side gigs like murals and small commissioned paintings while my kids would nap.  As life has begun to loosen those apron strings, I am beginning again as an oil painter through a wonderful Masters Art Program called Compass Art Center in Kensington, MD. Compass Art Center was founded by Glen Kessler, a wonderful, kind and amazing local artist.  I have studied with Glen since 2021, and what led me to this amazing mentorship program what a small prayer, a Mother’s love and a whole lot of grace.

The story goes something like this…

The Alchemilla Project began in 2017 from a small prayer I once whispered to Our Lady in a little chapel in Mexico and continued today through the graces and prayers of my own mother who is now in Heaven.  That first prayer took root as a little seed in my heart and stayed hidden even from me for several years.  But going back to that moment in the chapel….I boldly asked Our Blessed Mother if I could know her in a more personal way. This trip to Mexico was a healing retreat to the sacred grounds of Our Lady of Guadalupe and what I noticed on this trip was how close people were to the Mother of Our Lord.  So I thought it was a fair question, but the answer I got was not what I expected, nor was my response. So when I asked her if I could draw close to her, I heard in my heart, “Not yet.” 

My response…rejection. I first felt, in that moment, that the Blessed Mother, who everyone says is sooo wonderful just blew me off. So I sat in my little pity party and continued to listen and pray. And slowly, I began to hear, “When your mother is gone, I will be there for you.” It was at that moment, that I felt Her love.  My mother died a year later and Mary has never left my side since and neither has my Mom. 

Soon and slowly, over time, I began to notice that every commissioned painting that came in was of our Lady.  By the time I was working on the third or fourth commission, I asked her if this was truly from Heaven, could you please send me a mentor? I know that God’s work is usually slow and steady, but this request for a mentor came in a day.  I must have really needed it!  The next day, I found Glen Kessler under the word mentor; and signed up for every opportunity that his program provided. 

Once that awareness was there, I began to remember my prayer spoken only in the heart and I knew that like Mary, I had to give my fiat to God. It sorta stressed me out, but then I found these words written in my journal…

“How can you only give me half your heart and expect to make you whole?”  So I asked the Holy Spirit to re-establish me as an artist and to really inspire me in a mission.  He was the one knocking, it was His invitation and mission, not mine.  However, I was being called to respond in faith and as most people know, that once you say yes to God, his Heavenly staff goes to work and now….so do I.  I am not always so sure where Heaven leads me, but the good news is I that I now feel I don’t always have to be the one in charge of my destiny, and that is a freedom that that brings so much peace.  

  As I build the foundations of what my art calls me to paint, my hope is to share  glimpses of beauty that have touched my heart and moved my soul.  Art has a special relationship with beauty  - it is not an absolute end in itself but rather a gift to be shared.  To perceive beauty and the power and passion of the work the grace must move beyond the painting and into the heart of the viewer because the hidden stories of the hidden souls (the viewer) is where the real beauty lives.  

So thank you for sharing this most precious and sacred gift of art with me and may all it’s blessings be with you!!!