Artist BIO

Creativity has always surrounded me. I come from a family of artists and entrepreneurs. My dad owns a metal fabrication shop and taught me how to weld when I was very young. I worked with him during high school, tagging along to job sites where he installed custom gates, railings, and doors—an early immersion into craftsmanship and design.

My passion for painting began around the age of 15 when my cousin Laurie, a talented artist herself, introduced me to it. I started sketching portraits just for fun, filling up sketchbooks without realizing how deeply I was drawn to capturing people. Both of my great-grandmothers were painters and poets, and I’ve been lucky enough to inherit some of their work—a reminder that this creative thread runs deep in my lineage.

It wasn’t until I was 22 that something shifted. One day, without any clear reason, I went out, bought art supplies, and started painting. I felt compelled—like something inside me had finally awakened. Soon after, at 23 or 24, I dove into Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, completing every exercise to hone my skills. I joined local art groups in Portland and eventually stumbled upon a paint-and-sip night where I met artist and teacher Leah Kohlenberg. I studied under Leah for about four years, taking semi-private art lessons and figure drawing classes that helped deepen my practice.

In March 2015, I connected online with Sister Zeph, an educator and activist in Pakistan, after seeing a documentary about her on Malala Yousafzai’s Facebook page. I reached out immediately—I felt a strong urge to support her mission. That connection led me to teach virtual art classes to her students via Skype for several years. I traveled to Pakistan twice, once in 2016 and again in 2018, to lead in-person art projects with the young women at her school. My work with Sister Zeph inspired me to start my own nonprofit. I also built the website for her foundation (www.zweefoundation.org) and helped her apply for—and ultimately win—the Global Teacher Prize in November 2023.

Today, I primarily paint with acrylics, though I occasionally work with oils and watercolors. I prefer acrylics for their fast-drying, layering properties, though I enjoy watercolors when I want to get ideas down more quickly. After scanning my pieces professionally, I often use Procreate to enhance color vibrancy and saturation. Digital tools allow me to get closer to the original feel of the painting, especially when the scan can’t quite capture the richness of natural light reflecting off the canvas.

Regardless of the medium, my work is consistently bold, vibrant, and full of life—even when I'm navigating emotionally difficult times. I’m deeply drawn to portraiture. The subtle shift of a smile or the shape of someone’s eyes can alter the entire story of a face. That delicate complexity fascinates me. While I used to focus solely on people and animals, I’ve expanded into landscapes in recent years—though they’re still colorful and full of energy.

I’m inspired by artists from all walks of life, from greats like Frida Kahlo, Vincent Van Gogh, Dali, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo to contemporary talents like Dimitra Milan and Anna Sun. I also find immense value in the work of “micro-influencer” artists—those whose names might not be widely known but whose creativity is just as impactful. I've explored art museums and galleries across the U.S. and internationally, including in Vancouver, Florence, Paris, Lisbon, and Amsterdam. But more than anything, I’m inspired by people—across cultures, time periods, and backgrounds—and by the beauty of nature itself. The story of humanity is what fuels my creative fire.

Before opening my own gallery, I exhibited at RAW Artists shows in Portland and San Francisco. In 2019, I discovered The Artist’s Loft in downtown Vancouver while exploring creative spaces. The building, once Vancouver’s first bank over 100 years ago, had an energy I couldn’t ignore. I ended up renting a space across the hall and, in July 2020—despite the challenges of the pandemic—I officially launched my own gallery. Over the next few years, I collaborated with more than 60 local artists and hosted a dozen exhibitions. My work was also featured at Art at the Cave, and the gallery was highlighted in The Columbian newspaper.

As the gallery evolved, I partnered with Birdhouse Books, who now occupy the building’s basement, and later with Unique Beauty Loft to create a hybrid boutique and gallery. Eventually, Unique Beauty Loft took over the entire space. Though running a gallery was one of the most challenging experiences of my life, it taught me more than any college course ever could. It was a privilege to work alongside so many talented creatives.

Looking ahead, if I open another gallery, it will be as a cooperative—built on collaboration, shared resources, and community support. I’m currently rebranding my nonprofit to reflect this new direction. While I will continue to support Sister Zeph and her school, the nonprofit’s mission and name will shift to focus more broadly on arts education, advocacy, and support for artists locally, nationally, and globally. Stay tuned—this next chapter is just beginning.