about

Born and raised in the DMV by Deaf parents, I spent much of my childhood seeking out animal friends, reading and drawing when I was not following her two older sisters around. After earning a BS in Elementary Education from University of Maryland, I was offered a teaching position at Maryland School for the Deaf working with young deaf students. This position allowed many opportunities to create teaching tools for my highly visual learners, tapping into my drawing skills and creativity. When my first child was born, I decided to take a hiatus from teaching to devote more time to raise my family. I then picked up sign language interpreting jobs part time bringing my sketch pad and drawing during breaks. This did not happen too often, so drawing took a backseat. In 2006, I lost my beloved black lab to cancer. To cope through the loss, I picked up my pencils and started drawing a portrait. This sparked my passion to learn as much as I could to make my drawings more realistic. Through books, tutorials and practice, my artwork improved with each new piece. Currently, I am taking classes with colored pencil masters and draw as much as possible while continuing to interpret full time. In addition to my interpreting certifications, I am a member of Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA) and Frederick County Arts Association (FCAA).