October of 2016 I came across the news that Jon Schmidt (from Piano Guys), his daughter Annie Schmidt went missing. Sadly she passed away of injuries sustained from an accidental fall while hiking in the north-face cliff area below Munra Point in the Columbia Gorge region of Oregon. While the search was active in trying to find her (it went on for weeks), there was something about her that I could not not think of her. Unfortunately, there are many reports of people gone missing, and when you’re thousands of miles away there isn’t much you can do to help beyond spreading the word for everyone to keep a lookout… I found myself pulled in to the latest news and watched for updates morning, noon, and night until her remains were finally found. Why I couldn’t stop thinking of her, why her story – of all the stories out there, I don’t know. But my heart was pulled in and I prayed and hoped that she would be found. The news of her not being alive was devastating, and I was heartbroken for her family. Two years later since that day, this image of her has been on my mind. I felt it was about time that I finally create it. Sketching her meeting Christ, it has brought a lot of peace to my mind and I’m happy that I finally did. I hope it brings comfort to those aching hearts out there who are missing her and thinking of her too.

For friends interested in a print please contact me.

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About the Artist

I am an advocate first, and an artist second. My paintings create visual comfort-- spaces where grief, hope, and healing can live together without apology...

I paint what matters most: the people you cherish, the moments that shaped you, the feelings that need witness. Through art, your most precious memories move outside of you and into your home, where they can be held, seen, and never forgotten.

My work is rooted in three commitments: honoring the experiences of indigenous communities and the history of the land we inhabit; creating safe space for children and women whose voices have been silenced; and recording the honest truth of lived experience-- both my own and that of those who came before me. I believe art has the power to tell stories that words alone cannot, and to preserve what must not be lost or forgotten. I believe that all that we know about ourselves is because Art has preserved those stories throughout history, outliving those who created it.

When you encounter my work, I hope you find yourself in it-- not as escape, but as recognition. I hope it reminds you that your feelings matter, that your story deserves to be held, and that compassion and truth are still worth carrying forward.

Art is the voice that speaks honestly through the heart. 💝🪷