Portfolio

Plein Air

“I have never had a studio, and I do not understand shutting oneself up in a room. To draw, yes; to paint, no.” -Claude Monet

Plein air is the French term used for painting from observation in nature. It was made popular by French Impressionists like Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, and later, that beloved Dutch artist, Vincent Van Gogh.

My home state of Indiana has its own long tradition of plein air painters. Most known is beloved Brown County artist, TC Steele. I am grateful to have participated and placed in the Annual Great Outdoor Art Contest. It is a privilege to paint with local plein air painting friends around the Indianapolis area. My paints and I are a frequent visitor to Eagle Creek Park.

I love a good adventure, especially if it involves taking my plein air pack on an airplane. In 2016, I received the Lilly Endowment Teacher’s Creativity Fellowship which took me overseas to paint in Van Gogh’s footsteps. Learn more about this experience.

Commission a plein air

Is there a landscape or location that bears great significance to you? Capture a beloved landscape or location on canvas!

Mixed Media Painting

Photos, letters, and momentos peak through layers of paint and imagery.

A mixed media painting can transform a collection of timeless photos, treasured history, and intimate writings into a masterpiece.

Still Life

When quiet, inanimate objects are placed together, they begin a conversation in visual poetry.

What objects in your home are waiting to share a conversation?

Murals

I was 3 years old when I began making marks on walls. My mom caught me taking a yellow highlighter to my bedroom wall after a pre-nap reading of “Harold and the Purple Crayon.” Today I continue to see an empty wall as a blank canvas.

Make a statement.

Create an environment.

Tell a story.

Looking for Family-bonding experience or team building activity? Murals have the potential to be a collaborative work. As an art educator, collaborative murals play a big part in my elementary art curriculum. With nearly ten years of experience leading children in this cooperative experience, I am excited to offer this same opportunity to families and small groups. Whether it is a child’s bedroom or community exterior wall, a collaborative mural provides the opportunity to build trust, teamwork, and empowerment.

Illustration

Sketchbook Studies in France, 2012

Medical Illustration: Sliding Bone Graft

Jewell, E., BA, & Merrell, G., MD. ( 2015). The Use of a Sliding Bone Graft in the Upper Extremity for Long Bone Nonunions. Journal of Hand Surgery, Vol 40 (May), pp. 1025-1027.

Miriam’s Dance, 2017

Unconventional Painting

Painting on unconventional objects began when my parents gave me a pine wood desk. I spent that summer filling the surface of the desk with pastel flowers, bumble bees, and butterflies. That next summer a neighbor lady gave me my first commission when she asked me to paint on her daughter’s bedroom furniture.

It is a joyful experience when I get the chance to return to this childhood pastime.

Unexpected Portraits

When #selfies fill newsfeeds and profiles, a new take on an old-school portrait could really earn a lot of ‘likes.’

Imagine yourself or a loved one within the pages of art history. Maybe dressed in renaissance garb, or perhaps, posed in an iconic pose.

This commission is sure to garner the history-buffs respect and provoke an amused chuckle from the comic.

Home Portraits

Looking to give a unique house-warming gift? Or, perhaps, you wish to preserve the memory of a beloved home. A house portrait is sure to be a treasured heirloom enjoyed for years to come.

Sculptural Tapestry

Wood, ceramic, and paint take on rich meaning in this sculptural tapestry. Motif and symbolism weave together to depict the prophetic visions described in Ezekiel 1-6.

Spark + Echo commissioned this work in 2018. Click here to read the artist statement and view the work in its intended context. Spark + Echo originated in NYC and seeks to join patrons and artists together to illuminate the Bible.