About me
I grew up in a small Wisconsin town, went to college in a different small Wisconsin town and find myself living in yet another small Wisconsin town. Except for a brief stint in Oregon, this is where I’ve lived. Those small towns just instantly feel like home to me.
Back in the day, small towns usually meant spending a lot of time outdoors, which was lucky for me – exploring the woods behind our home, finding adventure on my grandparents’ farm, camping with my family, swimming in lakes and rivers. It instilled in me a love and respect for nature, as well as a certain comfort level with it. I’m not a huge fan of Wisconsin winters, but few things make me happier than hiking or biking or running a trail in the warmer months. Well, eating good food makes me pretty happy. And traveling and fragrant flowers and singing birds. And my family.
I met my husband at UW-River Falls, where we both went to school -- a mapmaker, hockey fan, photographer and fellow travel enthusiast. We live with our son who has an irrepressible zest for life, the kindest dog in the world and three cats (one shy, one round, and one with anxiety issues).
I went to college thinking I was getting an Art degree because it was fun, but I wouldn’t really use it -- at least not professionally. But four years after graduating I found myself being a professional studio artist. And now even later, I find myself being a teaching artist. What did I know? I guess I owe that to my relatives, every one of whom found a way to weave creativity into their lives – they set an example and I followed. And I am so glad for that.
For more on my professional experience, here’s my resume.