Unapologetically Appalachian

DRAFTSWOMAN | MOUNTAIN WOMAN | STORYTELLER

MY STORY | As an independent draftswoman, photographer, writer, rambler and storyteller the purpose behind my life and my work are simple, to tell my story and that of the land I love. It’s about the magic of capturing moments that are meant to live lives larger than themselves, simply because they stand to mean something to somebody. It’s all dust and dirt…born of the earth and rooted in the realness of an unapologetically Appalachian soul.

Based in the Southern Appalachians, my work is inspired by my time on the road and in the wild. My childhood was spent running horses in the red clay of the Blue Ridge and long, hot summers at my Grandparent’s farm in Western Pennsylvania. It was always gonna be that way though, I come from a long line of farmers, outdoorsmen and old Appalachian ways, so my love for the land is in my blood and the driving force behind everything I do.

That being said, over the years I’ve witnessed intense changes that have taken place in the land and within my own family when bitter disputes over land and mineral rights left behind severely shattered relationships and harsh new realities in its wake….suppose you could say some of the rumors you hear about us mountain people and our drama might be true every once in a while.

Currently my studio is on the road and my days are never really the same twice, often ruled by the weather or whatever my inspiration tells me. My affinity for good bourbon is only rivaled by my love of the landscape and I will always tell you more about the random places in between than the big city. Sometimes I can be a bit rough around the edges and almost all my time is spent covered in dirt in one form or another. Life has left me a lot of scars, some more visible than others, but I sure do have some good stories to tell.

I like my peace and quiet, so most of the time you can find me cruising some back road, chasing the sun and making a studio anywhere I can simply enjoy some fresh air. If you want to work with me on a commission, project or simply have a question feel free to contact me below. You can also follow along on my journey by reading the Journal and check out my Instagram for behind the scenes glimpses into my life and work.

“I’m a child of the mountains. A creature born of the strange, wild Places most people see simply as the in-between, never realizing these are the places that have the best stories to tell.”

MY WORK | Based on personal narrative around my travels across the United States and my life in the Southern Appalachians, my work gives a glimpse of the sheer beauty that lies in the places in-between, as I pull source imagery from where I live and road trips down many a long, winding backroad off the beaten path. Each drawing, photograph or note explores a changing sense of place and passage of time through layers of history, industrial changes to the terrain and our complex relationship with nature.

Pulling reference from the sublime beauty of the American landscape tradition and grit of Regionalism, I use my imagery to document the beautiful strength and resilience in rural life. Often portraying remote parts of the country and ways of life that are deeply misunderstood or even intentionally misconstrued in modern culture. My hope is that through my work others will be inspired to explore and contribute to a wider, less blinded conversation regarding the culture, land, politics and history that make up, stereotype and divide rural America.