A Childhood Dream

As a kid, I dreamed of drawing dinosaurs for a living—but it felt impossible. My art didn’t seem good enough, my books were outdated, and I couldn’t afford new ones. So, I pivoted to paying work: front-end design, logos, ad banners. It scratched the creative itch, and I kept painting as a hobby—until pet portraits became a side hustle.

Rediscovering My Passion

Art slowly became more than a hobby. I was always casually reading about paleontology, but it wasn’t until I took the University of Alberta’s Dino101 course that it truly clicked. It reignited my love for prehistoric life and showed me I could move beyond trivia into real understanding. That led to exploring geology, vertebrate paleontology, and sharpening my skills with pencil and watercolor.

Seeing Personality in Every Subject

Today, I’m working toward a future in scientific illustration—but I’ve come to love the personality in every subject I paint. Our two white shepherds, for example, look alike to others but are so different to us. I think about that in every pet portrait: those tiny features that make someone say, “That’s my pet.”

The same goes for original characters. People pour so much of themselves into their OCs, and I love helping bring them to life—whether it’s a D&D hero or a figure from their own world.

Art With Purpose

I know how rare it is to draw for a living, and I’m deeply grateful for it. When commissions are slow, my husband carries us—and that support makes this possible. So I pour everything into each piece, whether it’s a pet, a character, or a prehistoric creature. Every painting is a chance to learn, to connect, and to create something meaningful.