“On the Road Again,” created for Djangophonique received Best Animated Music Video and Video of the Year at the Michigan Music Video Awards in 2023.

The art of storytelling can have a profound impact on strengthening relationships, influencing peace, understanding, culture, and community. We live in a time when we are in great need of tools that can help us relate to one another and our world. Through illustration and animation, I create compelling content that invites the viewer to gain a fresh perspective. My work is light and colorful, lending itself to a playful, joyful experience. When we are in a state of peace, we can accomplish so much more than we may even think possible. 

Our society is ever-changing, challenging professionals to constantly adapt to new and different ways to do business. Through my experiences, I’ve continued to learn how to adapt too. During the pandemic, I was the Communications Manager for Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. Overnight, we had to rethink every way we experience community and how we communicate with one another and prospective parishioners. Through our hard work and open minds, we were able to successfully carry out services and programs through this difficult time. The changes have not stopped, but continue to come, especially for communication. I’ve found that taking the time to create good content is an essential part of having a measurable impact on an audience or community.

I want to inspire healthy communities through connection to our Spirituality, one another, and the earth. I am especially interested in projects that create motivation around improving our environment and sustainability.

Do you want to work with me? Let’s chat! Send me an email with your project inquiries to get started.

A bit more about me…

I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I love traveling, adventure, and the great outdoors. I spent a lot of my childhood playing with sticks, swimming, and running through the woods, all the while steeped in the arts, from countless hours at dance practice to violin lessons to marching bands and musicals; my love for all things creative began before I can remember.

After receiving my Bachelor of Fine Art in Illustration and a Minor in Business at Grand Valley State University, I started specializing in watercolor illustration and animation. I began my career after college with a company I established, Funamals LLC, primarily painting custom pet portraits in watercolor. In 2014, my work was featured on MSN Living and overnight my Etsy shop became so busy, I was painting for 12 hours a day, nearly 7 days a week. It was exciting to find success, but I knew I wanted to do more with my work.

After moving to Phoenix, Arizona with my husband Cam, I went on to manage social media content for Laboratory5 Inc in Tempe, under the direction of Cyndi Coon, who has had a great impact on my life and career. I created animation work for projects like Arizona State University’s Emerge and fun illustrated and animated content to use as social media campaigns and blog posts.

I spent a short time in Los Angeles working for Digital Twigs, an animation studio that I greatly admire. I created the concept art for an animation project for Baozou, establishing the identity of their film division.

I also had a great experience working for Scottsdale Public Art on projects like Canal Convergence, where I worked with artists from all over the world, managed a team of 56 volunteers, and helped build the event to 56,000 attendees. I worked with an amazing, talented team, reporting directly to Andrea Teutli, who I learned a lot from–and continue to! Some of my favorite tasks were managing performing artists like Rioult, an contemporary dance company based in New York City, and working alongside talented artists like Héctor Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena, a team of artists from Mexico whose work has a strong focus on community; something we have in common.

I went on to work for six and half years as the Communications Manager for Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church. This is where I felt my career begin to take flight. I was incredibly blessed to work with the most amazing, supportive, and creative team. I grew enormously, both personally and professionally. The culture at Saint Barnabas is unique, loving, and accepting of all people. The Rev. Jim Clark helped me value my gifts and expand my abilities. He taught me to keep my Spiritual practice and my relationships always at the center of all that I do.

In spring 2023, I received “Best Animated Music Video” and “Video of the Year” at the Michigan Music Video Awards for “On the Road Again,” created for Djangophonique.

Today, I live in Phoenix with my husband, artist Cam DeCaussin and together we own DeCaussin Studios. We have a studio in our house and live happily together raising our young son, and two dogs, Windsor and Fitzgerald.