I explore the lost and found edges of rural life . . .

I create representational paintings that are inspired by the overlooked edges of small towns, rural landscapes, and familiar items found in West Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia that I am connected to and care about.

I work primarily in watercolor and use traditional painting techniques on high-quality papers to craft paintings that play off the relationships between light and dark, organic and geometric, and soft and hard, and I design compositions to contain and resolve these tensions. I often intuitively respond to flashes of contrast and pattern in my peripheral vision, and I’ve learned to trust these glimmers as points of entry into landscapes and subjects.

Utilizing photo references, sketches, and time spent painting on location, my goal is to feature or reexamine subjects that typically would be considered inconsequential and present them with dignity and care. Ultimately, I want my work to prompt reflection and spark appreciation for place.

Current Exhibition: Barns Have Stories

Barns Have Stories is a collaborative exhibition pairing works by multidisciplinary fiber artist Susan Feller and painter Kristen Colebank.

The exhibition is on display in the Grasshopper Gallery of Lost River Trading Post, Wardensville, W.Va., through April 27, 2025.

A digital catalog of the exhibition is shared below.