Born in Missouri, I have lived many places throughout the midwest. My father was a business man. His job required our family to move every other year as his career grew. My best friends during these transitions were the family dogs. It was not unusual to find me hanging out with them in the dog house. Being the new kid in school, I was a bit quiet and immersed myself in drawing. It was one of the parts of me that I resonated with the most. It took me to another world. I worked from my surroundings. I drew the students sitting around the room, the stuff on my desk and animals using reference photos from books and encyclopedias. I felt as if there was so much I wanted to learn. I received many requests for art projects from my classmates and teachers. I won my first city wide competition when I was in second grade. It was a portrait of my mom for Mother’s Day.
My mother, a gifted architectural designer along with my grandmother who taught china painting, were among my earliest artistic influences. I accompanied my mother to a community college watercolor class when I was just 5 years old. After being recognized by the teacher and often used as an example for the class, my mother later enrolled me a summer art class at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. Again, I attended as the youngest student. I loved this class. We would sit in the grass on warm summer days and draw the character of old trees.
Through the years my passion took a back seat. I moved from Chicago to Branson Missouri to raise my children as a single mom. It was a vacation destination with breathtaking beauty, I attended various workshops through the years and I slowly started to enter the world of art again doing pastel commissions and a few shows in my spare time. I won several awards including Jurors Choice with SVAA and Table Rock Art Gallery. I have shown my works at Chateau On The Lake, Ralph-Foster Museum, Branson Hilton Convention Center, Juanita K. Hammons Hall of the Preforming Arts and Art Santa Fe. I also participated in the National and California State Duck Stamp competitions, and have been published in the English Setter Association of America Yearbook. My paintings were selected by Walmart for a national program to hang as murals across three states. I am a member of Springfield and Branson Regional Arts Councils, Best of Missouri Hands, and Oil Painters of America.
Over the years, I have explored he world. I've had many unforgettable experiences and met so many fascinating people. I've soaked up every second of these incredible journeys. As a result, these travels have broadened my perspective and my art has evolved. “Seeing all of the Museums and famous artists and their work, including Michael Angelo, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Picasso and Rodin, and seeing the Mona Lisa in person was a real thrill! Observing the street artists of Italy and France, and hearing about their lives, brought a new dimension to mine. Seeing Gaudi’s architecture in Spain and the representation of nature in everything he did, left a big impression on me.”
I lived in Malibu for a time, experiencing the rush of Santa Monica and LA lifestyle during my outings. Delighting in a different kind of nature, I awakened to the beauty of the ocean, and the sunrise over the beaches, watching the sea lions and pelicans from my deck. Enjoying the warm breezes and the sound of the waves crashing over the sand, was a nice break from the Midwestern winters.
I have an existential need to create! My most recent venture is songwriting. I live and paint atop a mountain, on Table Rock Lake with my horses, dog, cat and conure. I am surrounded by a wooded landscape of inspiration, including an abundance of eagles, turkeys, and deer with an occasional bear or mountain lion. "It is the perfect backdrop for creating and enjoying some of Gods best work!"
