Painting has always been an important part of my life, and I received a great deal of encouragement and support, especially from my father. I grew up in Northfield, Illinois, which is a suburb of Chicago. My father had a cabinet shop there, and I remember sitting in the shop surrounded by wood shavings, painting on whatever pieces of wood he would pass my way. Looking back, I now realize that many of them were not scraps. He would take wood I had painted, make frames or shadow boxes for them, and then hang them in the office reception area. For me, wood holds great beauty, a lasting tribute to a much-loved father.

After raising four children and going through various careers and hobbies, including furniture restoration, interior decorating, faux finishing and custom floral design, I decided to reintroduce painting into my life, working full time to develop my art. There have been considerable changes in my style since starting this endeavor. I have gone from realistic watercolor painting to work that is more contemporary and abstracted. Most of my work is acrylic on canvas. My primary focus is to create something that is both spontaneous and natural, yet with harmony and balance. Using unusual materials to create different textures and patterns is also becoming important. I find that working with unexpected outcomes is very rewarding. The effort to combine these components is a challenge, and I use techniques and tools left over from past skills as well as new ones I have developed along the way. One of my favorite questions is "what happens when I do this?” If I can continue to ask myself that question, then I know that my work will continue develop and grow.

I feel it is important to stay removed from the identity in which others view me or even as I view myself. I think there is a place within us all where our true identity lies, where we find truth. It is in being true to myself that allows for an inner freedom that expresses work that is not contrived or full of illusions. It then holds value for me and hopefully brings enjoyment to those who view it.