Monotypes - I have turned to the monotype technique to explore the human form through gesture and texture. It allows me to build a figure piece by piece on the plate—capturing the fleeting energy of a pose, or the soft, internal release of a sigh, in a way that feels singular and alive...
A Sigh
A Sigh
About this piece
About this piece
Fragments of a Sigh
Fragments of a Sigh
This is actually the physical shape of relief except that my own knees don't bend this way anymore. It’s the soft, private embrace we give ourselves when the weight finally lifts and everything feels "right" again.
A natural, luminous glow sits at the center of her—an accidental magic of the monotype process that perfectly captures the feeling of an internal "sunny day."
I've rendered her in layers of sea-glass teals and mossy greens, that remind me of my home near the ocean, with the fluid energy of a long, happy exhale.
Because this is a monotype, this specific "sigh" can never be replicated unless I send it to an actual printer.
A Bridge to the Past: The Wood-Relief Collection
A Bridge to the Past: The Wood-Relief Collection
This series marks a significant evolution in my work—a move beyond the architectural form of my doors to explore the raw narrative of the wood itself. These pieces serve as a bridge between my structural roots and my expressive studies, representing a deliberate shift toward storytelling through texture and relief.
The Heritage of the Tale I am drawn to these stories out of a lifelong habit. Growing up with a mother who held a Master’s in folklore and mythology, these were my bedtime stories. They are woven into my foundation, and in this collection, I act as a storyteller through wood.
The Art of Excavation Unlike traditional woodcuts meant for paper, I work directly into the grain. I use a subtractive process to "excavate" these narratives—carving through layers of hand-applied paint and wood to reveal the bold, historic lines of the 16th century.
Through this texture and the remaining pigment, I am expressing the magic of the North as it lives in me today: the mystery of witches, the world-shaking weight of Ragnarök, and the formidable grace of Freya as she commands her chariot of flying cats. These ancient stories aren't just history to me; they are a vibrant part of my art today, brought into the light where they can be seen and felt.
The Storm-Witch
(After Olaus Magnus "Women Skilled in Magic," 1555)
The Storm-Witch
(After Olaus Magnus "Women Skilled in Magic," 1555)
A reimagining of a 1555 woodcut depicting a Nordic sorceress commanding the elements. In this scene, she pours potent draughts into the sea, conjuring a tempest to wreck passing ships.
This work is a modern relief based on Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus. It captures 16th-century beliefs in northern sorcery and the formidable power of women over the natural world.
Rather than a flat print on paper, I have "excavated" this design directly into the wood. By removing layers of paint to reveal the relief, I’ve given this 500-year-old narrative a tactile, weathered life.
Freya's Chariot
(After Alexander Murray, 1874)
Freya's Chariot
(After Alexander Murray, 1874)
Freya—the Norse goddess of love, fertility, and magic—commands the skies in a chariot drawn by two great cats, Bygul and Trjegul. These creatures represent the strength and independence that mirror Freya’s own fierce, untamed nature.
In a departure from traditional paper prints, this work is rendered directly into a solid wood relief. By moving the art onto timber, the imagery gains a physical weight and permanence, transforming a 19th-century illustration into a forceful, modern icon.
The Survivors: Líf and Lífþrasir
(After Lorenz Frølich, 1895)
The Survivors: Líf and Lífþrasir
(After Lorenz Frølich, 1895)
Hidden within the protective wood of the world-tree, Líf and Lífþrasir are the sole human survivors of Ragnarök. They represent the quiet persistence of life and the hope of a new beginning amidst the stillness of a transform.
In this relief, I have intentionally camouflaged the figures by withholding color. They remain part of the raw, natural timber—undisturbed and silent. They do not demand attention; instead, they are "revealed" only through deep, patient looking, mirroring their mythic survival within the heart of the wood.
My rendition of the 1895 illustrations of Lorenz Frølich, this piece explores the intersection of mythic endurance and the organic beauty of the grain.
Ancestral Commemorative
Ancestral Commemorative
The Legacy Tree: Custom Ancestral Commemorative
There is a profound power in tracing the lines of our own history. The first of this art was born from a deeply personal milestone: the first gathering of cousins in my own family separated for generations, finally reunited through the legacy of their shared ancestors.
The Hoffman Legacy: This featured piece serves as a tribute to Joseph and Rose Hoffman, who emigrated from Austria in the late 19th century. In a beautiful convergence of history and art, the relief is designed in the "Hoffmann" style—the geometric and floral Art Nouveau aesthetic that defined the Austrian Secession during the very era my ancestors began their journey to a new land.
A Living Family Tree: Designed as a commemorative icon, this relief acts as a bridge between the past and the present. It celebrates the deep roots we share and the new branches we continue to grow, even after 135 years apart.
Hoffman Cousins' Reunion
Hoffman Cousins' Reunion
Ancestral Commemorative
Ancestral Commemorative
The Legacy Tree: Custom Ancestral Commemorative
There is a profound power in tracing the lines of our own history. The art was born from a deeply personal milestone: the first gathering of cousins in my own family separated for by generations and geography, finally reunited through the historical research by my sister and and my at-the-time unknown cousin. I created multiple plaques to share with my new found family.
The Hoffman Legacy: This featured piece serves as a tribute to Joseph and Rose Hoffman, who emigrated from Austria in the late 19th century. In a beautiful convergence of history and art, the relief is designed in the "Hoffmann" style—the geometric and floral Art Nouveau aesthetic that defined the Austrian Secession during the very era my ancestors began their journey to a new land.
A Living Family Tree: Designed as a commemorative icon, this relief acts as a bridge between the past and the present. It celebrates the roots we share and the new branches we continue to grow, even after 135 years apart.
Cherished Family
Cherished Family
Cherished Family
Our Life on the Lake with Friends
Cherished Family
Our Life on the Lake with Friends
A Family Story Portal - Custom work
A Family Story Portal - Custom work
This piece reimagines the "portal" as a doorway into the sanctuary of my neighbor's home. Inspired by the serene waters of Truesdale Lake, it transforms a local landscape into a symbolic family narrative.
In this scene, the wildlife serves as a living portrait. Two graceful adult swans represent the amazing protective and playful parents, watching over their three cygnets—my neighbors with three children under 5 who are a complete delight.
This family exists in harmony with their wilder neighbors: the watchful owls, curious raccoons, and the steady presence of the fox and deer. From the soft scurrying of mice and rabbits, to the majestic sweep of the blue heron and eagle, every creature is "excavated" from the wood to reflect the vibrant life of on our lake.
Festival Flowers
Festival Flowers
Colors and material upcycled from another project
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