I always planned on being an artist but accidentally turned into an archaeologist. Invited to pack my bags and model internationally as a teen, travel ignited an anthropological interest in global cultures and curious human behavior (umm, the fashion industry). Unable to afford art school, I moved back to my hometown in Marin County, CA, attended community college, and fell under an archaeological spell.

Surprised by my own deep dive into intellectual, non-visual pursuits, I became obsessed with ancient cave paintings and theories concerning the origins of art. I graduated from UC Berkley and later the University of British Columbia with a M.A. in Archaeology. I’ve excavated numerous sites overseas, illustrated artifacts, ran field crews on random pipeline projects, and have had the privilege of serving numerous indigenous communities. I also wrote a couple of books, got into museum exhibit design for over a decade, birthed three gorgeous boys, and became a pathological, award-winning knitter.

All to say, a lot of life got in the way of that be-an-artist plan. But like the archaeologist who knows exactly what she’s digging for now, I’m dusting off the original dream and getting back to what I love best: painting.