was born in Central Valley, Northern California moving around a lot during the first 10 years of my life.  My family finally settled in Los Angeles, California in 1958. 

My mother and aunts were very talented artists each in their own mediums.  My mother was a pencil sketch artist and would spend hours encouraging me to draw things that were around me.  When not drawing with my mother I spent alternate summers with my aunts, whose interest in our American Indian heritage was a strong influence on their own art work.  Many of my summers were spent constructing art projects directed by the women in my life.

My mother, seeing ability in me to capture details in my drawings, encouraged me to spend time drawing people and animals.  In 1964 during the British invasion of American popular music, I was a sophomore in high school.  Because of the popularity of the Beatles, I did some pen and ink portraits of Paul, John, George and Ringo.  My classmates loved the paintings so much so, I had to duplicate the drawings by hand many times over (that was before Xerox). I sold the paintings to my classmates to pay for more art supplies.  These were my first commissions. 

After high school I went to work, leaving my artwork on the sidelines.  In 1976 I met and married a career military man and soon found myself leaving California for South Texas.  During my first year living in Texas I took my first art workshop from a local oil landscape artist, Arlene Morgon.  Arlene’s attention to detail and softness about her work intrigued me.  However, my focus was on my new son, Matt and working shift work at a large petro/chemical company.

It wasn’t until Matt was older that I joined a local art club, “Playhouse of Design”, that my interest in art was revitalized.  This group of artists were diverse in both types of mediums and levels of accomplishment.  They held demonstrations and workshops on a regular basis.  I had many options and opportunities to work in many mediums, but always returned to oils as my first choice.

Retiring from my job, after 26 years, I turned my attention back to my art and the possibility of relocating to another state.  Before leaving Texas, I had an opportunity to study with an acrylic portrait artist.   At that time, I painted a portrait of my mother who was failing in health.  Completing this painting launched me, once again, in the direction of painting people and pets and finding a market for work in oils and pastels.

After the loss of my mother and the birth of my first grandchild, my husband and I moved to Lewisburg, WV.  I joined the Greenbrier Artist Guild in Lewisburg.  This opportunity has taken my art in a new direction still.  The members of the Greenbrier Artist Guild are primarily watercolorists, but they have taught me a new medium, new techniques and most of all, given me the luxury of many mentors.  I in turn introduced them to pastels and portraiture, which they are enjoying as well. 

I am enjoying life in retirement, a new grandson, friends in a new community and many new opportunities to grow in my art.