I serve as an extension of your creative team, providing premium art licensing/lic. freelance services to wholesale, manufacturing, retail, and publishing companies.

My deliverables: high resolution (600 dpi) fully digitalized, expert prepared, layered working Adobe PS files (or Tiff, PNG, etc.) ready for direct application to your product formats via preferred large media sharing service. Included is messaging campaign per collection, plus royalty-free typeface. (I offer video insight support of the collection as an available add-on.)

My one-two punch combines traditional  mastered art methods with digital composition integration. My illustrative designs start as mixed media, watercolor, colored pencil, pen and ink, marker, and/or pastel. The cherry on top is in the flexibility given to you and your team with layered, high resolution working files prepared in Adobe PS to format your product layouts with precision fit. (No AI is used in any part of my art creation or rendering process.)

• My main design categories are women's/handbags, home/kitchen decor, seasonal/holiday and gift.

• I offer tiered licensing options based on transformation and exclusivity requirements, minimum engagement starts at $8,000

My specialty is handcrafted artsy florals and surreal naturalism, including people and the human form.

Posh Grit

As a creator, I've been skilled in drawing since I was a toddler (notably less skilled then)—doodling on my notebooks, sneakers, backpacks, jeans, myself, and on and on growing up. I was the kid that everyone sought out to bribe for their art projects.  Set in rural Western Pennsylvania, from very humble beginnings, it was the ideal backdrop for growing and moulding a creative brain. It curated a love of nature, plants and animals. The environment entertained a very curious imagination which contributes to my love of storytelling. The make-believe dress up was the spark that later inspired my personal aesthetic of Victorian meets Rockabilly and ignited my obsession with shoes, dresses, and purses. Some days I still think we should all be dressed for a masquerade ball.

My upbringing was not through a fluff lens; "we didn't know we were poor." We knew we were dirt-poor (by American standards), and I'm grateful for it shaping who I am. It translated into learning to take great care of things and knowing what real quality is, and also, understanding integrity and manners are a choice, not pre-determined social station.

A positive mindset and can-do attitude have always been my guides. Supported by integrity and discipline, faith is my cornerstone with connection being at the root of it all—I think that's what all creatives are yearning for. This means to be helpful, to be of service; whether it be helping a friend or neighbor or supporting a brand meet its directives. I am a to-the-point professional with a great sense of humor and a childlike curiosity. "Above and beyond" is an expression of my passion and represents how my brain works. Serving through creating, with over 20+ professional years in art and design, is a testament to my dedication. In general, I AM passionate about life, and I love helping people find solutions to their problems! If the "I'll figure it out mindset" annoys you, I'm not your person.

How I Flow

My day starts off bright and early with my daily non-negotiables: reviewing my itinerary, taking a pulse on important industry matters, meditation and workout (accompanied by my spoiled tuxedo-cat, Icabod, curled beside me). Then I'm off to my studio. I maintain a consistent schedule which results in nailing deadlines and producing art on a regular basis. Along with art creation, I enjoy writing daily. Bored does not fit anywhere in my vocabulary.

The Evolution

I positioned myself for commissioned projects throughout my education: fixated on portrait work of humans and pets—creating loved, cohesive family portraits that didn't get to happen in real life. I donated my time, skills and art to many local causes, from animal shelter benefits, community projects to cancer awareness organization fundraisers. My need of creative expression existentially grew, catapulting my career as a freelance artist through college. (Truly the art nerd, as one of the only students with the keys to the art wing thanks to my then-mentor, Prof. Ludwig.) I was honored by my alma mater with my art placed in their permanent gallery, received many awards along with my degree, and was member of Kappa Pi International Honorary Art Fraternity—the Who's Who award popping up again and again.

I am skilled in drawing, watercolor, acrylic, oil, pastel, colored pencil, cut-paper, marker, clay, pen and ink, mixed media and so much more.

I was employed as an in-house artist for several years at wholesale company, Carson Home Accents, where I developed my surface design skills of placing and creating art on and for product.

In-House Experience

My in-house experience is the following but not limited to: designing art and products (hand-drawn and Adobe Creative Suite) for home, gift, seasonal, flags, bereavement, statuary, and garden decor, concepting, product development, trend tracking, creation of presentation/board room concepts, catalog and product packaging design, preparing product files for manufacturing production and editing files for product proof alterations, 4-way views for sculpting, product mock-ups for media and catalog use, assistance in product photo shoots and catalog layout and general use of graphic design skills. 

Harnessing Creativity

My greatest artistic attribution was my awaking. It's that important to mention; it's why I do what I do. I express gratitude for every day, at least twice a day. It started with an examination... something prompted me to be introspective on my life, my environment, and the things and people around me. I had not realized until then I spent my life on autopilot—auto-responses and auto-navigation without questioning it. It didn't happen all at once. It was gradual, with blips here and there. And then it was suddenly all at once. The great Ernest Heminway was onto something. I found myself asking "does this serve me for my highest good?" with everything and everyone and every belief that I ever had. There was a common theme. Of all of the avenues I had traveled, my creative mind never quite fit in. This theme was that these spaces were ordinary, and my ideas did not belong there. They were not ordinary, and ordinary people would not appreciate or understand their potential. I took assertive and intentional direction—I changed my life. A great pruning if you will. I changed my surroundings, changed my friends, and changed my routines and habits. One of the changes that I'm proud to proclaim is living a sober, alcohol-free life. Autopilot comes from a place of lack of purpose. I live a purpose-driven life which is that of service, community and to help those that seek it with my gifts and talents.

Where the Magic Happens

All of the creative magic happens at my studio - the Cottage. It introduces itself with an undeniable "let's flow" vibe—my own little Ferngully of plants and flowers with splashes of art and inspiration, encompassing a calm yet energized space. Harnessing creative energy for maximum output is a specialized skill that I have mastered over many years of knowing what works best for me.

Entrepreneurship

After being an in-house artist, I moved on to solo-preneurship. I spent years, a decade to be exact, building a highly-respected, premium and private client-based business where I had the honor of creating deeply meaningful, one-of-a-kind work for individuals, helping them express themselves with art they wear—including those healing from major life events. That business taught me precision, client trust, and creative excellence which resulted in a closed book and booked two years in advance. It was truly a spectacular and wildly successful journey, yet, while I was fulfilling client visions above and beyond expectations, I was left unsatisfied and lost because I knew I was ignoring my purpose. I was supposed to be in a bigger space and reach further. Eventually, I realized my creative calling was meant to live in a broader space in surface design, thus called back to my roots. Light Elementals LLC was founded in 2021 on a persistent, reoccurring thought that had formed many years before but had not yet been clearly defined. I knew that this was it—my lighthouse, shining my purpose and His Light out into the world. Since then, Light Elementals' mission has been clearly defined in the luxe art-for-product space where quality, craftsmanship and storytelling are the guardrails, positioned to expand and are poised for a breakout with the right distinguished partners/collaborators.

Every single piece that I create sings "let's celebrate life!" That vibrant energy is carried into each and every product that dawns my designs. With all pieces created through handcrafted authenticity, the human element and connection are ever-present. I see you. Your brand. I see the end user; I see your customer.  You provide the atmospheric elements for the magic to happen for the joy-spreaders—the ones making our days brighter. You curate for those that have something to say. The memory-makers. The ones that cultivate those amazing homes and environments and events that get talked about for decades. I'm here to help make that happen. #DawnIt

Refined Skills

Being a creative business founder/CEO has given my skills as an ultimate coordinator a place to thrive—it's a rush getting things in order. As a self-declared killer analyst, my obsessive researching and data skills compliment my mega-mind. I'm an inventive problem-solver as a neurodivergent, which enables me to be able to connect the dots with anything.

Also, an in-the-moment master and creative director. Punctuality and on top of deadlines is my repertoire, as well as being a dynamic collaborator and dependable in delivery. My passionate storytelling translates as a charismatic copywriter.

Obsessed with the art of business management and studying all-things economics allows for a broad view.  My brain is tuned in to tracking and predicting likely trends, understanding heritage and history, creating mood boards and color palettes that connect, applying color theory effectively to products and marketing, consulting on creative ideas for the businesses in and out of the design industry, creating/nurturing long-term business relationships, creating content and photographing product for marketing, branding and identity experience, and creating collections; designing hero images with supporting designs, illustration, spot illustration, creating seamless repeat patterns and experience in small volume production

All of the skills that I have mastered influence my creative process even though they are not all part services that I provide.

Growth is my on-going mantra of always learning and adding value, applying teachings from leaders and mentors. To this list, I add proficient in AI prompting and creating AI agents. Accumulative leadership skills continue. Always.

We know that creativity is an innately human quality that cannot be outsourced or reproduced by machine. We have the distinguished honor and duty to be exemplary arbiters of such creative spaces by looking out for and nurturing talent by employing humans. AI is great to be utilized for non-creative and remedial tasks, but art creation is neither of those. We boldly look forward to the future with you, seeking out our biggest and brightest stars, especially in the neurodivergent community, to come along with us.