A friend of mine was recently and suddenly diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. That news is never something you are prepared to hear. Cancer is just a vague, impersonal sickness - until it touches someone familiar to you. Then it becomes real. A real threat to health, hope, and happiness. Yet it is also a call to celebrate the life of those fighting cancer and fight alongside them in whatever ways we can.

As a portrait artist, I aim to use my talent and skill to add to the lives of those around me. One of my favorite places to share my work is painting at charity events and donating those paintings to be auctioned off for their cause. I want to honor the events that I attend by capturing the spirit in which they are organized. I love watching the movement and energy in the room and transforming a blank canvas through that lens with my oils. The finished work then brings to mind the memories we made during those moments together.

The next event I will be live painting is the 7th Annual Pink! Event to be held on January 28th, which benefits the MaryEllen Locher Breast Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital, here in my hometown of Chattanooga. I'm proud to attend, support, and contribute to this foundation. Last year's live painting was a wonderful success, and I'm excited to break out my many shades of pink paint for a second time! I encourage you to attend this marvelous event with me and support this important work being done for women fighting breast cancer.