I didn’t always know I wanted to be an artist. For much of my life I was living the script of trying to do what everyone else thought was best. Make sure to choose a profession that makes enough money, yada yada. I was a troubled young person, I got into drugs at an early age and my addiction quickly destroyed my life. I reached a breaking point, and luckily that came early for me. By 20 I had entered treatment and found AA. My recovery journey coincided with a realignment of my values and desires for my life. I just wanted to live a healthy, fulfilling life. This led me to take art as an education path seriously. Up until this point I always thought- like everyone else- that art wouldn't make money and if I wanted the respect of my parents I'd have to do something serious. This seemed so unimportant to me now. So I went to school at Maharishi International University (a school with meditation as part of the curriculum) in Fairfield, IA, to get a bachelor’s degree in fine art. I got much more than a degree at MIU. I learned advanced meditation techniques that have changed my relationship to life. While I was there my vision kept expanding. I realized to be fulfilled I would need to find some way to be of service to others. Then I discovered art therapy. I feel like I was training for this profession my whole life. I am eager to start a master’s program in art therapy at Southwestern College in Santa Fe, NM in September of 2025.

In the meantime, teaching ceramics brings me a similar joy. Introducing people to what may be a lifelong passion is a joy like no other. I love working with kids and seeing the community that often springs up in ceramic studios. Pottery is a medium that can bring so much peace and serenity but also so much frustration. There is much trial and error in the learning process and having the camaraderie within a studio to get you through is such a warm feeling. My goal with soul fire is to create just that- a community of people who inspire each other to keep showing up to the present moment, just as you are, to keep discovering what is inside you waiting to be expressed.