About

I have always been an artist, but a few years ago I realized that art had to be the focal point of my life – anything else was not going to work. I restructured my life around the arts, especially dance and painting. It has been a frightening and beautiful adventure that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

When I discovered silk painting, it was the meeting point of many good things – painting, fashion, batik. I am a self-taught artist and learned silk painting through research and much experimentation.

My approach is instinctive and fueled by the things which are important to me: dance, music, lively people, bold colors, intensity.

All of my scarves are hand-painted on 100% silk. I use the serti technique, a French resist painting method, which allows for freehand drawing and infinite color combinations. They are individually designed and each piece is unique.

Regarding my name… A cygnet is a baby swan. The swan has beautiful symbolism in many mythologies, and the idea of growing into something beautiful is inspiring to me, and much more exciting than simply being beautiful.

I currently sell my work in person at the Portland Saturday Market in downtown Portland, Oregon, as well as galleries and boutiques in Illinois, and online. I was a member of the Illinois Artisans Program (until moving to Oregon). I also enjoy dancing tango, playing the violin, and drinking good tea. I was born in Mississippi, grew up in the flatlands of Illinois, and now reside in Portland, Oregon with two small cats.