About April
Before AEM Gallery
My passion for art began as early as I can remember at a little round yellow table full of art supplies in my bedroom (thanks to my parents who nurtured this talent as a child). And even though it remained a passion throughout my early life, when it was time for college and beyond, I decided on graphic design as a career. I spent the next 25 years doing what I thought was my dream job and loved almost every minute of it.
The beginning of my art career
It wasn’t until 2008 when a first-ever layoff landed in my lap that I turned to art again. With full intentions of looking for another position in marketing and design, I picked up a brush and started painting for a creative outlet before starting the job hunt. To my delight, my work started selling and the rest is history. The first few years were not easy and I worked relentlessly to make this thing happen. Houston has so many opportunities for artists starting a career and I am forever grateful for that.
As I honed my skills, I began doing art festivals and hanging work anywhere I could get it in front of people. The real tipping point was being chosen as the featured artist for Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park in 2016, a top-ranked art event in the US. Other opportunities followed that, including commissions for Memorial Hermann Greater Heights, KPRC Channel 2 News, Midtown Arts District, and Karbach Brewing Company.
And Now...
I divide my time between traveling to art festivals around the country, working on commercial projects, and of course creating new work in my studio.
People ask me all the time… How do you stay inspired? Where do you get your ideas? All I can say is that my senses are consistently on alert taking in this beautiful world around me. My brain is a very busy place. I also limit my news feed to the bare minimum and concentrate on the good side of life.
I have a real passion for painting imagery that moves people to warmth. And then there’s animals… another passion. Being able to combine my art and love for animals is a blessing and I am forever grateful that I get to go to my studio every day and make art that brings people joy.
Seeing someone’s aura visibly change when they walk into my studio or my booth at a festival makes my day… Those moments keep me going and give me assurance that this is the path I was meant to take...
FEATURED ART AWARDS
2016 Featured Artist
Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park
Houston TX
2018 Featured Artist
Huffhines Art Trails
Dallas TX
2019 Featured Artist
Edmond Arts Festival
Edmond OK
2020 Featured Artist
Chevron Houston Marathon
Houston TX
2022 Featured Artist
Bayou City Art Festival Downtown
Houston TX
2022 Sponsor Award
Greater Gulf Coast Arts Festival
Pensacola, FL
CORPORATE COMMISSIONS AND AWARDS
The Robert Cizik Eye Clinic
Houston TX - 2012
Ten commissioned paintings for the pediatric floor
Memorial Hermann Heights
Houston TX - 2015
Commissioned mural and large scale painting for the TIRR/Neonatal Dept.
KHOU Channel 2
Houston TX - 2016
Commissioned artwork for production studio
Midtown Cultural Arts District
Houston TX - 2022
Awarded installation art project for Bagby Park
Karbach Brewing Company
Houston TX - 2022
Awarded art packaging design for partnership w/ Bayou City Art Festival
PUBLISHED AUTHOR
Covid-19 in Three to Five Words
This is a coffee table book that I created during the pandemic that tells a tough story in a light and respectful way. While it started out as a way for me to personally process this time in history, it has turned into much more. Link to 3 to 5 words page
