What is currently on your nightstand?
A glass of water, a stack of books I fully intend to read but will probably end up listening to instead, a hair tie, a lamp, and a little piece of art my daughter made for me years ago.
Who is your biggest influence as an artist, and why?
It’s hard to choose, but I always come back to Ansel Adams. His compositions, his darkroom magic, the way he played with light and shadow. It’s timeless. When I first started editing digitally, I often thought about how he used dodging and burning in the darkroom to guide the eye around a photograph. I still wonder how he’d feel about digital editing.
Tell us about your childhood. What is the most memorable moment as a young person?
I had a wonderful childhood outside of Seattle with two older brothers and parents who supported all our activities. Lots of soccer games, swim team, sewing classes, summer camps, you name it. I was always a little creative and drawn to beautiful things. I loved rearranging my room, bringing out the holiday decorations, and taking photos of my stuffed animals with my little film camera. Looking back, I guess it was all early training for what I do now.
If you could only have one supply in your art studio, what would it be and why?
My camera, of course.
What is your favorite room in your house? Describe it.
Our kitchen. We remodeled a 1960s brick ranch on the marsh in Charleston a few years ago, and the kitchen faces due west toward the sunset. I designed it with an island in the middle where we eat breakfast and dinner, where Cora does her homework, and where friends gather over drinks and appetizers. It’s the heart of the house, where all the little moments happen.
What is your biggest score online?
I love hunting for vintage treasures! My style leans a smidge mid-century. A couple of years ago I stumbled across a matched pair of burlwood console tables from the early ’70s in near-mint condition. It was like winning the Facebook Marketplace lottery!
What is the benefit of buying art through a collective? What do you recommend for those that are new to buying original art?
For anyone new to buying original art, I suggest starting small…literally. Pick pieces that you love and that can move with you as your life and style evolve. It takes the pressure off and lets you discover what you’re really drawn to.
That’s why I think art collectives are the perfect place to begin. They introduce you to a wide range of artists, styles, and price points in a way that feels approachable and fun rather than intimidating.
If you have the entire day to spend in an art museum, which one and why?
I love the Guggenheim. The architecture, the light, the art (of course). And I like the scale of it. You can see everything in a few hours without feeling rushed. I actually prefer smaller museums for that reason.
Too much of a good thing can be overwhelming, and I don’t like leaving feeling like I missed half of it. Plus, when you’re done, you can walk straight out into Central Park and find even more inspiration in the nature and the people there.
What is your favorite hotel and what makes it special?
Right now, my favorite is The Dewberry here in Charleston. It’s this beautiful jewel box of a hotel! Great service, striking interiors (with a touch of mid-century, which I love), and a wonderful location. Every detail feels so thoughtfully considered that it’s a treat to be there, whether you’re staying for a few nights or just stopping in for a cocktail (and their spicy caramel popcorn, of course).
If you were a lipstick color, would you be red, pink, or clear, and why?
Definitely not red! I stopped wearing red entirely when I was about 10. It’s just not my color. Most days, it’s just lip balm or a sheer gloss for me, but personality-wise, I’m probably more pink.
I can never get on a plane without…
Headphones for music and my phone with the NYT Games app.
How did you get into the world of art?
Honestly, I stumbled into it pretty naturally. I got my first camera as a kid and spent entire rolls of film on my stuffed animals and the scenery outside the car windows. By high school, I was learning to develop film in a darkroom, though I didn’t realize then how much photography would stick with me. Years later, working as an interior designer in Seattle, I bought my first DSLR on sale at Best Buy and started photographing Pike Place Market. The colors, the light, the waterfront. I was hooked. Over the years, through moves, motherhood, and a career shift, photography kept finding its way back.
What do you do to relax?
I’m not great at intentionally creating time to relax, but I’m working on it. I like to do crossword puzzles, needlepoint, wander with my camera with no plan at all, and sit on our dock with a cocktail at sunset.
When do you get the biggest surge of inspiration?
I’m really drawn to light and shadows. The way sunlight reflects off the ocean, moves through the trees, or changes the whole feeling of a space as the sky turns orange at sunset. I’m always grabbing my phone to capture those little moments as inspiration for future work.
Prediction for the Color of 2026?
This is a fun question! My guess is a green. A beautiful sage or soft celadon. It feels classic, timeless, comforting, and so rooted in nature. (And I’m working on some pieces in green, so it’s top of mind for me.)
What is your idea of a date night? Dinner and a movie or dancing all night?
A really great dinner out. Charleston has such an incredible restaurant scene, and it feels like there’s always a new spot to try.
Tell us about your favorite PHOTOGRAPH that you have created.
That’s hard! I love them all for different reasons. But one I’m always drawn back to is calledMy Blue Sky. It’s a photograph of a rich blue sky with whispers of pink clouds along the bottom as the sun was setting…the blue deepening as the pinks grew more vibrant. Another artist once described it to me as ‘hopeful,’ and I think that’s what I feel when I look at it, too. It’s a very simple, quiet moment of beauty at the end of the day, a reminder to pause and appreciate the world around us.
One piece of advice for buying original art?
Simple…buy what you love! If you truly love it, it will always have a place in your home. Trust your gut and you’ll never regret buying a piece of original art!
