My journey with the monarch butterflies began in 2005 when my Mom and I purchased a lot in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico with a dream to build a self sustiaining project, a duplex style casa. The orginal intention of the project was to create a rental income stream that would allow us financial freedom to live in Mexico full time. Most houses in Mexico are named, so we decided on Casa las Mariposas since being a B&B style rental was our concept. Having a fun and beautiful theme such as the Monarch butterfly who overwinters in Mexico seemed ideal. 

While constructing Casa las Mariposas, I saw the cover of the New York Times about a pioneering ultralight pilot, Vico Guteriezz who's mission was to raise awarness of the plight of the Monarch butterfly. Vico flew a tiny ultralight decorated with the wings of the monarch butterfly along it's flight path, traveling over 3,000 miles from Canada to Mexico. Having absoultly no idea that these magnificant creature's migration was threatherned, I suddenly felt a deep urge to do something to help!

In 2007 I formed a 501c3 foundation for the Monarch's called the Monarch Effect. Over the next two years I spent endless hours learning more about the Monarchs and their plight. As the Founder of the Monarch Effect I attended many Monarch butterfly conventions that ultimately lead to the formation of the Monarch Butterfly Fund. MBF's mission was to unify the efforts of many smaller Monarch butterfly projects into one streamlined organization to help these tiny miracles of Nature.

Through the Monarch Effect, I met many individuals passionate about these butterflies, one of them being Dana Frye. With Dana's science teaching knowledge, we partnered with Natural Partners and created a program called the Monarch Sister School Program whos aim is to connect school kids from the United States and Canada to kids who live around the Monarch Biosphere Reserve in Central Mexico. This program still exisits today.

After moving permanetly to Mexico I forged ahead and began my own business teaching painting in the little fishing town of Bucerias, Mexico. Slowly I began building a stable business teaching and painting. In 2015 I realized another dream, to own my own gallery. Never forgeting about my beloved Monarchs, I named my gallery, Galeria Monarca. Today, 10 years later Galeria Moanrca has become the most recognized building in Bucerias because of a two sided 30 foot mural painted by well known artist Adrian Takano which honors the Monarch butterfly and it's indiginious and spirtual roots in Mexican culture. 

Dana and I stayed in touch and presently, 20 years later, we have come back together to share the dream of the Moanrch butterfly through my project SoulPainting. Both of us have moved symotaneously in the direction of our spirtual calling. Today, we are very excited to share with you all that we have learned on our spirtual journeys in retreat style events designed to open your heart and creativity. Come Play with Us, Create with Us and Heal with Us! To learn more how you can join us visit  SoulPainting Retreats 2026.