About Me

An artist, to me, is one who learns, practices, strives until the necessary techniques are so well integrated into how one does one’s art, it moves into another realm. It becomes possible to focus, explore and make unique solutions and creations.

With paintings that work (and not all of them do!), there comes a time when it knows what it needs to fully emerge and my job is to pay respectful attention, doing what it asks until the painting is complete.

Art has always been part of my life. Both grandmothers and my mom and dad taught school, but also painted. Our family showed our work, starting when I was in grammar school.  By the time I was in college, it was too late to change my commitment to realism. This made me a rebel in the era of abstract expressionism. Painting continued, but I followed the family path into teaching to earn a living. Since I was always curious about how others experience the world, focusing on people with special educational needs gave me opportunities to work with fascinating individuals.

Skills of listening, honoring uniqueness, valuing depth rather than surface in relationships, taking joy in constant learning, recognition of the need for change and trust so that growth can occur: these are among the legacies of my long career in special education.

With retirement from teaching, and our children grown,painting became more prominent in my life. And now, finding a new way after the shattering loss of my beloved husband and partner of 45 years, painting is my focus, my work, my passion.  Prizes and sharing paintings with an increasing number of patrons and clients brings joy.  Each day when I paint, the experiences of learning, discovery and growth intensify.