In 1993 my husband and I tackled the task of building a home in the middle of a lovely wild thicket in East Texas.  Hoping to preserve the untamed beauty of the area, we slowly carved out our little niche, grateful for the opportunity to live in and learn from a relatively unspoiled bit of nature.

As we began clearing a small area for the house, it was apparent that some plants are particularly tenacious, continually sprouting new growth even when cut at ground level or below.  Why do some plants have such a powerful ability to survive and even thrive in such hostile conditions?  One answer is found beneath the surface.  Instead of fibrous root systems, which tend to spread laterally and grow close to the surface, more tenacious plants often have taproot systems, which rely on a stout main root for nutrition and support.  The taproot reaches deep into the earth, making the plant very difficult to uproot, transplant, or destroy.

Thus I learned an important lesson from my new surroundings: To be strong, I must reach deep into my source for sustenance and support.  My source is the unchanging and inexhaustible love of God and the "taproot" that connects me to Him is His Son, Jesus Christ.

In 2007, in the midst of a major health crisis for one of my children, my studio became my sanctuary.  The creative process is now prayer for me.  My artwork is an offering to my Creator. It is my goal in the studio to offer expressions of the essentials of my faith...truth, strength, purity, beauty, unity, peace, grace and, above all, love.  

The influence of the surrounding woods is evident in my work.  Lessons and images from nature are common, as I see endless parallels between the natural world and the spiritual.  This earth really is a great classroom.

Thank you for your interest in Taproot Studio.  For a more detailed glimpse into the process behind my creations, visit my blog at www.taprootstudio.blogspot.com.