I’m a transplant from Mississippi who has fallen in love with the Natural State, but you won’t hear me calling the Hogs! Hotty Toddy! Other than Artist, I’m a lot of things, but my favorites include Mom, Wife, Episcopalian, Veteran, Wanna-Be Chef, and Emerging Art Therapist. I’m also a member of the Conway League of Artists and Mid-Southern Watercolorists.

As an artist or art therapist, you won’t catch me sticking with one medium, though I do tend to go back to my watercolor roots quite a bit. I’m forever intrigued by trying something new. Instagram is the best place to check out my latest work or what I’ve been up to.

I’ve been a creative as long as I can remember. I opted out of sports at a young age in favor of spending Saturdays with an 80-something-year-old lady who taught me to paint with watercolor, among many other things. I studied art throughout high school and college. I spent some time at Memphis College of Art, then earned my bachelor’s degree in General Studies from the University of Mississippi, minoring in fine art, psychology, and history.

With prerequisites complete for a graduate program in art therapy, I began the Master of Arts in Art Therapy (MAAT) hybrid program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. I’m now in the last semester of that program wrapping up my internship at Cardinal Counseling Services, PLLC, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Meanwhile, I’m working on my thesis which is an art-based exploration of the shared lived experiences of couples who have endured IVF (in vitro fertilization).

I’m adamant that art can be inherently healing; however, when guided by a trained professional, I believe that healing potential can reach a whole new level. Art therapy is perfect for those hard-to-talk-about topics, it’s for great for all ages, and no, you don’t have to consider yourself an artist to experience the amazing healing benefits of art therapy.