Sustainable Botanical Illustration and Wildlife Art in Watercolor
I’m a wildlife artist, painting native plants and animals in a contemporary naturalistic style. As a small child I taught myself to draw. I work in water-based mediums including watercolor, ink and acrylic. My work has been exhibited at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, Blowing Rock Art Museum, Spartanburg Museum of Art and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Increasingly, I’ve become interested in biodiversity and studying endangered plant and animal species. I have certificates in Native Plant Studies and Botanical Illustration with a focus on conservation. I carefully research the subjects for a painting in order to tell the story of each fragile creature and its interrelationship with its environment. On a symbolic level my work often explores the theme of life and death including both the beauty and heartbreak of existence.
The two core values of my shop are high quality and sustainability. I do all printing and packaging myself. For my cards and prints I use eco conscious materials, including recycled or cotton rag papers and plant based cellophane sleeves from American sources. For packaging I use reused or recycled materials. I also donate 10% of profits to charities that protect wild animals and the environment.
I currently live in rural part of North Carolina, with a pond, a meadow, a forest, chickens, ducks, a husband and a few cats. I have a big organic vegetable garden and we eat a mainly plant-based diet, as a way to protect both animals and the environment.
