Today I've been working on a long-overdue revamp on my Web site and updating my About page was at the top of the list. Part of what needed updating was writing a more official artist's bio as well as augmenting my CV with some very important information.
This update also meant I needed to shorten the narrative of my life story. I couldn't quite bring myself to delete the content, so I've placed here in case someone asks me for it.
My life before Berkeley
Some of you knew me as @weatheredsilo. In 2010 I started a blog and opened an Etsy shop under that name. Studio time was far from steady but I somehow managed to produce a handful of oil paintings on canvases that I handcrafted from salvaged hardwoods and eco-friendly textiles. I also sold paintings and limited-edition giclées of my Dust Bowl Glimpses series depicting the resilience of families displaced by the Dust Bowl. During this time I amassed a fantastic online community of kindred spirits, many of whom I consider close friends today. I also had the great honor of contributing an art tutorial on Poppytalk. I consider myself a very lucky woman.
I earned a degree in Business Administration, Marketing in 1990 and began my career working at a boutique advertising and public relations firm in Denver. From there I held various positions at a magnet manufacturing company in Castle Rock where I oversaw national advertising campaigns, led an in-house sales team, assisted with new product development, and traveled extensively across the U.S. to consumer products trade shows. Following a move to Seattle in 1995, I was instrumental in building a marketing communications and pr department and led product marketing management teams for a healthcare software company. From there I helped build the marketing department of an internet start-up that sold dental supplies.
In 2000 I put my career on hold to start a family--this involved two unforgettable journeys to China. My family and I moved back to Colorado in 2003 where we literally built our own home on 35 acres near my husband's grandfather's farm. The allure of the Pacific Northwest drew us back to Seattle in 2006 and I began clocking volunteer hours in classrooms and on auction teams at my daughter's schools. I also proudly supported my daughters as they earned junior black belts in Kenpo Karate--a 4-year journey! In 2008 my husband co-founded Full Slate from our home office where I occasionally helped with social media and often referred to myself as a 'start-up widow'. In 2009 I helped my sister recuperate from surgery and chemotherapy, and in 2012 I became my mom's primary caregiver following a sharp decline in her health