Biography - Before retiring in 2023, I had a long and multifaceted career as a physical therapist, PT assistant professor, professional opera singer and opera company Executive Director, and as a volunteer art appreciation teacher and coordinator of "Art Smart" in Florida and Texas at my children's elementary schools. Born and raised in the South (Florida and Georgia), I lived all over the US and Germany before moving to southern Oregon in 1999 and then Olympia in 2019.
Artist Statement - Throughout my life, art has been a constant from drawing, ceramics, dancing, choreography, singing (rock, spiritual, and classical), sewing, needlework, interior and graphic design, acrylic painting, and growing and creating beautiful flower arrangements. During COVID lockdown, I became passionate about watercolor, completing multiple intensive watercolor schools, academies, and courses. I continue to study with master artists with varied approaches to realistic painting. My art influences include current and former teachers Chris Lyons, Tracy Lizotte, Krysztof Kowalski, and Bradley Hendershot. I've always been drawn to and most inspired by classic artists including Andrew Wyeth, Maxfield Parrish, Francois Millet, and Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
My creative journey has been shaped by my diverse life experiences. My watercolors are infused with a strong design and realism. Living between a fresh water pond in my front yard and Puget Sound in my back yard with a yard full of flowers, a garden, fruit trees, pollinators and wildlife enables me to draw inspiration from my surroundings. My art captures that essence and invites the viewer on a journey of discovery experiencing my unique perspective on the world. I love meeting art lovers and explaining the inspiration and story behind my paintings. I hope that my paintings bring people as much joy as they did for me when I lovingly created and painted them.
Affiliations - I’m a member of the Olympia Art League, Northwest Watercolor Society, and the Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artists.
Honors - My first Art Competition entry “Puffins on the Edge” won 3rd place at the 2024 juried Thurston County Fair Art Show Watercolor Division. My painting “Midwinter Morning” was accepted into the Power of Color Juried Art Show and Exhibit at the Fogue Studios and Gallery in Seattle in spring 2025. I was accepted into the 2025 Juried Bellevue Art Museum Summer Arts Fair, the largest Arts and Crafts show in the Pacific Northwest.
