Artist Statement: 

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t creating—drawing, painting, or simply making art in some form. I grew up watching my mother, artist Lois Huntzicker, bring animals to life with her incredibly detailed graphite drawings. Her ability to capture not just the likeness, but the spirit of her subjects, left a lasting impression on me. Through her work and by helping at her art shows, I developed both a deep respect for the artistic process and a passion for expressing myself visually.
That early exposure to art set me on a clear path. I went on to earn my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Montana State University in 2009. My contemporary fine art training at MSU, combined with an upbringing immersed in Montana’s creative community, helped shape and refine my artistic voice.
Today, I’m honored to serve as the label artist for Madison River Brewing Company—an especially meaningful role, as it's been one of my favorite local breweries for years. Whether painting wildlife, landscapes, or custom pieces, I strive to create work that connects people to the beauty and wild spirit of the natural world around us.

Why I Paint:
Recently I had a fellow artist tell me that my paintings were “true to nature” and that it was “refreshing to see”. This was an amazing compliment, which got me thinking – why is it so important to me to me that my paintings capture an honest, unfiltered moment of nature?

I grew up with Montana’s wilderness as my playground. We lived far enough out of town that my weekends were spent playing in the mud, catching frogs and turning a densely overgrown piece of the forest into a playhouse with my sister. We were fortunate to have the best of Montana’s nature literally outside our back door. This is the first key to why it is so important to me to have some hint or aspect of nature in my artwork – simply stated, it is what inspires.

Through my artwork I strive to bring a level of respect to my animal subjects, large, small, feathery and fuzzy. I am especially interested in capturing their ‘reality’, which includes every quirk and imperfection. I believe sometimes imperfections are what make them unique and special. This is key to why I paint what I paint and the subjects I choose.
There is something honest and pure about someone’s character when they let their own quirky imperfections show. I work to highlight that honesty in my artwork. I strive to have my paintings be true to the subject’s nature. Without that level of honesty, I don’t think you can truly experience the subject in it’s entirety.

Tools:​
I take pride in the quality supplies that I use. I like to ensure that every painting and print will have a long, archival life with as little color fading as possible.

Paint:
I use water mixable oil paints. The pants I use have an ideal texture for layering colors and creating a visual, complex color depth. I love the archival quality of this paint, as well as the vibrant color that is achieved with such a quality paint.

Canvas and Linen Board: 
I paint on archival linen and archival canvas board. The reason I choose this surface is because the board keeps the fabric surface extremely tight with minimal flexing that could potentially damage the painting.  I also like the thinner surface because it is much easier to frame. (Usually stretched canvas is slightly thicker than a frame will fit, which makes the frame not sit flat against the wall.) I am sure to use only archival quality painting surfaces to ensure there will be minimal warping and damage due environmental effects over time.