My Story

I grew up in Livingston, New Jersey during the 70’s & 80’s. I was always creative as a child and spent hours in my room drawing cartoons. I also spent hours in the woods of my yard, just looking at the trees and listening to the birds. I have always been a daydreamer. During high school I would copy album covers and draw all over my notebooks, jeans and sneakers but I had never taken an art class until college.

I went to college at GWU and was a dual major in Fine Art & Art History. I studied art history and found fascinating the stories behind artists and art movements. I took classes in drawing, design, silkscreen, sculpture and each class I loved better than the last. It was also a very difficult time within my family. My father was diagnosed with Leukemia and I had learned that my parents were getting divorced. I dove into my art classes; partly as an escape and partly because it was the one thing that made me happy during this very scary time. My final year of school I took Beginner Painting and it just clicked. There was something about the freedom of movement with brushes, the viscosity of the paint, the messiness and luscious colors that I became obsessed with and it continues through today.

Twelve days after graduation my father passed away. I decided on a leap of faith to move to Los Angeles; to live near my favorite aunt, sunshine and what I felt was a creative vibe. That was in 1991 and I’ve never looked back. I met my husband two months later. I worked various jobs to earn money and continued to paint at home. I also started taking yoga classes and found myself once again, completely engaged. This practice became another cornerstone in my life. It mirrored my art practice, and allowed me to go deeper within myself. I truly feel that having both of these practices together, allowed me to heal and have more grace and empathy for myself and others.

In 1996 I met artist & teacher Corinne Hartley and it changed my life. From the moment I saw her beautiful paintings I knew she would be MY teacher. Her joy of painting, color and life; her talent and nurturing ways have been the most influential to me. Her students were her best friends. They became my mothers, aunts, friends, and role models for every aspect of my life. Creatively I learned about color, composition, brushwork and simply the fun of diving in to whatever I wanted to paint. I loved that she encouraged me to study with other teachers as well. I’ve been fortunate to study with some amazing artists and have become a better painter due to their teachings but it was Corinne who I believe transcended not only my art, but my way of approaching life and learning the value of fun, friendship and community.

After having children, I began both exhibiting my work in galleries and teaching art to kids and teenagers out of my home studio. I loved sharing my knowledge of art while watching their confidence and friendships grow along with their skills. I approached them the way Corinne taught me. To see these kids having fun, connecting, and creatively expressing themselves was just as fun for me. I taught for years until we moved and no longer had the studio. It was at this time I decided to funnel that energy into curating different events and art shows at the local gallery that represented me. To me, art creates connection; sometimes in ways we would not expect. We meet people and have unique experiences that enhance our lives, add depth and meaning as well as having a whole lot of fun.

Over the years my work has varied and developed although painting has always remained my main focus. I try to approach all of my subject matter with a sense of curiosity and exploration. I work in oil, acrylic, gouache, ink and collage. Currently I have been collaging paper that I have stained and adding them into paintings. My interest in color and color relationships is a major focus and through-line, regardless of my subject matter. My favorite part of making art is getting lost and found. It’s the discovery of how one color plays off another. It’s playing with the materials and going from having nothing to creating something. It has been the most fulfilling way of spending my days.

As I am approaching the next stage of my life (empty nest), I am looking forward to working with others again; sharing my passion, knowledge and experience.

In addition to spending my time creating, you can still find me in a yoga class or outside; staring at the trees, listening to the birds and hanging out with my family.