Welcome to The Coconut Treehouse Studio!
It’s a small but inspiring space in our historic home on an island just off Sarasota, Florida. From the studio I can hear boaters passing by and sea birds overhead. Sometimes when a hurricane comes through, the entire property floods—but we stay safe, tucked high among native palms, towering poinciana trees that bloom bright red when the tarpon run, and banyan trees that feel like they’ve been here forever. Our home was originally built at ground level but has since been raised for safety. We love this old house and believe it’s worth preserving.
My studio is filled with found objects from coastal adventures, treasures from my time studying art in Paris and Rome, and Palm Beach–style antique furniture that I find for a low enough price so it’s never too precious to get paint on.
I’ve always loved gardening—coming from a farming family background and even working as a florist for a time—so there are plenty of plants in the studio to keep me company. Watering them is part of my daily rhythm, a moment to let go of the day’s busyness, reconnect with the earth, and settle into a creative mindset before I sit down to paint. There are also kid-friendly art carts and extra easels ready whenever my little boys want to wander in and paint alongside me.
