I wear several hats, artist, teacher, wife, mother, and encouragement builder.  I have been making art as long as I can remember and that love has never stopped.  In addition to teaching art classes at my studio (Studio Virtu) in Des Moines, Iowa, I paint, draw, sculpt and generally dabble in just about every medium I can find. But my favorite is oil and acrylic painting! I live and make art in Waukee, Iowa which is just outside Des Moines.  I have a wonderful husband, 4 awesome kids and two huge, clumsy, all-too-loving Labs.  I have a degree in art education from University of Illinois and a masters degree in elementary education.  My first love is my family, of course, but trying to capture and share the beauty I see all around me is my constant force.  I am a pleaser and nothing makes me happier than sharing joy and teaching others to be the most creative, imaginative and joyful person they can be! I hope the work I share here will bring you the same joy it brought me while I created it!