Definitions: F-I

Definitions are an integral part of my studio practice. I use them to brainstorm, set the tone, & to clarify the ideas and concepts behind my artwork. 

Miniatures: Pieces that Become a Whole

Accumulation, collection, pieces that become a whole. Each of these 2x2 pieces not only has their own story to tell, but becomes a part of a much larger one when added together.

On the surface, these tell the story of MoonShadow Press. However, they also tell a part of my story as an artist - a story of my efforts to surround myself with hopeful beauty amidst a dark world, & help others do the same. Some days it feels like a battle & others times it comes more easily, but every day I press on.  

2x2s Printed by Social Print Studios.

Definitions: E

Definitions are an integral part of my studio practice. I use them to brainstorm, set the tone, & to clarify the ideas and concepts behind my artwork. 

Definitions: A-D

Definitions are an integral part of my studio practice. I use them to brainstorm, set the tone, & to clarify the ideas and concepts behind my artwork. 

Art Is... A Conversation at Theology @ the Bottleworks

The Schlafly Bottleworks in St. Louis, MO, partners with an organization called, Midrash, creating an event called "Theology @ the Bottleworks." Once a month, people from all over the city, all walks of life, and usually multiple religions come together for a thoughtful discussion about a current event. In 2015, I went to about art, where the question, "What is art?" was asked. It was an inspiring conversation, and I took pages of notes. From those notes I pulled out these quotes and paired them photographs I've taken over the years. May they speak to you as much as they have to me.

Studio Life: Bright Experiments

I had a dream the other night where I told someone I was an artist and they immediately asked me if I could make them a painting. I straight up told them, "I'm not a painter." It's true, but it got me thinking about using paint for hand lettering.  The first thing I tried was finger painting, then using a brush, then using a smaller brush, and finally I wrote with a Q-tip. It didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped, but I loved swirling the colors together! I'll just have to keep practicing.

PS: It didn't feel like fall or winter when I made these last week, so I stuck with bright summery colors. 

Willy Wonka Hand Lettering Series

How do you get better at anything? Practice, of course- usually lots of practice. Inspired by Halloween & my love of candy, I figured, what could be more perfect to use than lyrics & quotes from the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory movie! The whole movie is swimming with lovely verses. Plus, all the whimsy involved made many of these quotes perfect for practicing color compositions. I also specifically used mainly pencils, instead of the ink I tend to favor. Pencils give a very different texture, & they are more mobil than a wet medium. 

Happy Halloween! Enjoy your candy & colors. 

Stars & Other Stories

A collection of phrase poems | 2010 – 2016

I started writing this collection as a freshmen in college. Originally, it was a single poem, but I got stuck & left it to marinate. Over the next handful of years, I'd pull it out every once in a while and work on it. Eventually it became clear to me that each stanza of the original poem worked better on its own, as a collection of phrase poems. However, I continued to struggle with the wording & how I wanted it all to look in its final form. Finally, 6 years after the first draft, it all came together - the words & the hand lettered presentation. You can't force the process. Some things just take time (as in years) to reach completion. But who knows? They may continue to evolve. 

PS. There is still one stanza/phrase poem in the works!