About the Artist

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Born and raised in Hot Springs, AR, I come from a family of artists. My grandfather, Thomas Payne, has been a large inspiration for my artwork. I remember spending time as a child in his frame shop, playing hide-and-seek with my sister. The aroma of varnish and oil paints take me back to that time.

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I have been painting since I was a young girl. My family has showed me incredible support throughout my journey as an artist, pushing me to keep doing what comes natural to me, though my technique and style has changed and advanced throughout my life. I took art classes all through high school and college, which helped me to have a more technical understanding about different mediums, styles, etc.  I take interest in learning how my peers have developed their styles and what inspires them, it's always fun to learn something new from a friend. While I have also enjoyed using charcoal and oils, I find that acrylic and gold leaf are the mediums I gravitate towards most. I often incorporate other mediums into my work to create texture, such as sand, which you will find in many of my pieces. 

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My style is largely defined as abstract expressionism, and because I have aphantasia, I find that my inspiration comes from something more internal and spiritual. My emotions show up as waves of color that I feel in different areas of my body and soul. Much of my work feels as though different aspects of nature are taking over the canvas, representing different stages of my life. I have always felt a deep connection with the Earth and feel the most at peace when fully immersed in the elements, away from the noise of civilization. When you gaze upon my work, I invite you to find time to pause and truly feel what each piece has to say.

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