Meaning behind the work

 The first piece of art I sold was to a man wandering in my 2nd grade school reminiscing on his daughter he had lost. As he looked at the marks of children's dreams displayed through markers and colored-pencils. One paper flitted out and caught his eye. A girl with a wild golden mane seeing the world through fresh eyes. His heart caught in his throat and eyes misted as he held back a sob. There was beauty in this sorrow that felt like a dammed up flood, and he took hold of the drifting page. As the sunlight dimmed to golden hues my parents asked my young face if I wanted to sell my art to a man who had lost his daughter, and saw his little girl in my art piece.

The meaning of art changed in that moment as I knew this work of my hands could be a small comfort to a grieving man. Art became more than the accolades for a small girl, but a voice of love to a world that is deaf to words, but impacted by images.

Soon the love of photography followed as I saw beauty in the world that needed to be shared. Whether from a burst of light on a craggy mountain top, or the joy of a smile or the beauty in a far off look. I wanted to capture the beauty in shutters & strokes.