about
I vividly remember the first time I painted with the color yellow.
I was five years old, and it was the moment I discovered the power of expressing my emotions in a tangible way that others could respond to. The sensation of letting my feelings flow directly onto the paper, unfiltered, still resonates with me. I can recall the sound of the bristles spreading vibrant color, creating a connection with my soul.
Through painting, I found my language. The elements of line, shape, color, and composition gave me a new vocabulary, providing the means to be heard. It was the first time I felt safe.
I have always worn my heart on my sleeve. As a good friend once told me, when I walk into a room, everyone knows how I am feeling. Growing up in a household where emotions, especially those that were not cheerful, were discouraged, was challenging. Art became my refuge, allowing me to express myself in a socially accepted way.
Art has always been my happy place (and my therapy), but in the summer of 2006, a visit to Grace Cathedral in San Francisco sparked a new passion. The stained-glass windows captivated me, revealing the potential to play with light and color in ways painting could not achieve.
Upon returning to Seattle, I enrolled in an Introduction to Lead Came class at Seattle Stained Glass. Under the guidance of Jack Young, I learned the fundamentals of window construction and glass selection. Creating my first window felt like finding my true purpose. I was transformed.
In the winter of 2016, I decided to prioritize art in my life. I sold my home in the Central District and moved my family into a work/live loft in the historic Old Rainier Brewery in South Seattle. With 15-foot ceilings, cement floors, and two huge bay windows, the space was perfect for my passion for stained glass. My studio, True North, is where I designed and fabricated over 375 panels in just under six years.
