Growing up in Kansas, a love for sailing might not seem like an obvious part of my story. But my dad made sure it was. Despite the limited number of lakes nearby, my parents found one about an hour away and we were there any weekend we could sneak away.
Some of my earliest memories are of Saturday mornings spent in sailing lessons or on my parents boat, "The Screamin' Mimi". I can't say as a kid I loved learning how to capsize a boat or the dirt and grime that came with cleaning the sails… and I'm fairly certain the name of the boat came from all five of us screaming whenever the boat heeled too far, but over the years, my dad's love for sailing has become a part of me.
When my dad was young, he spent summers in Rhode Island with his grandparents on Narragansett Bay. This is where he learned to sail. My grandparents moved there later in life and so whenever we go to visit, it brings back so many fond memories for him. It is a bit of a homecoming feeling for him and as I've grown older, it has since become just as meaningful to me.
When I began thinking about my first collection of original paintings, it felt natural to start here, with the boats in the bay and the Newport Bridge standing tall in the background. It’s a tribute to my grandmother, who passed away last year, and to the love for this special place she and my dad shared with me.
I hope the By the Bay collection brings a sense of calm and joy into your home and reminds you of the places and people that hold a special place in your heart—just like it does for me.
