I’ve never been able to escape my love for children’s books. I can still picture myself as a kid, flipping through Captain Underpants and wondering if I had what it took to create something like that. Back then, I didn’t know where I fit in. Creative dreams felt distant, unrealistic, and as far away as the world of Captain Underpants... wild, fun, and definitely not something "real adults" did.
So, I started imagining other paths. Eventually, I was drawn to one of the greatest challenges I could imagine: Earning the title United States Marine. It was a calling that spoke directly to me. To the part of me that craved structure, purpose, and a deep sense of belonging. I wanted to serve something bigger than myself and stand for what I believed in. What followed was 11 years of faithful service.
But even through the discipline and demands of military life, one thing never faded: my passion for creating. As I grew older and started a family of my own, that early love for children’s books returned. Reading to my kids reignited something in me.
In those everyday moments, I remembered the joy those stories brought and thought...
Maybe I could actually do this.
Born and raised in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember. Entering coloring contests in the local newspaper, designing t-shirts for school trips, and finding new ways to express myself visually. My passion for art deepened over time, especially as I discovered a natural sensitivity to color and composition. That discovery transformed art from a hobby into something more intentional. Over the years, I’ve continued to explore and refine my voice through traditional media like acrylic paint, mixed media, and colored pencils. These materials allow me to work hands-on and stay connected to the physical process of making.