Watercolor and Mixed Media Fine Art that celebrates the natural world

Artist Statement

I have been an artist my entire life as I remember it, having art as a refuge-- a place of healing and joy. So many different fine art forms are important to me; I feel like I am being genuinely myself while creating. From early in life I practiced sketching, sewing, weaving, needlework, baking, macrame, crochet and finally--painting.

My subjects are mostly organic. The visual symphony of simply walking in the temperate forest or desert while hearing the wind rustling through the verdant boughs of

the oak, cottonwood, eucalyptus and mesquite-- put me in a peaceful state of being. I developed a great appreciation for the complexity and majesty of nature.

The subjects of my paintings are of the natural world. The biodiversity of flowering botanicals, delicate butterflies, birds and wildlife provide soft, whimsical and often ethereal scenes. In contrast, I enjoy painting natural landscapes with majestic rock and mountainous terrain diverging with the powerful crashing waves of the sea. I recently became interested in painting parts of the world I hope to visit one day. For now, I can escape to some of those magical sojourns as I create a visual ventana through my paintings.

When I paint, I enjoy giving the subjects of my art the courtesy of being represented with some degree of realism but through my own interpretation. Being curious about the natural world drives me to learn about my subjects’ behaviors and habitats. Botany, lepidoptery and biology have always fascinated me, and I love to continue learning. My watercolor paintings have a peaceful feel to them and convey optimism through my use of vibrant colors and soft, flowing backgrounds.

My three beautiful children and husband inspire and encourage my creativity with their support and love. Professionally, I have taught for 27 years in the public school system. I taught science, English language arts, special education and I received my National Board

Teaching Certification in 2010. I incorporated art into my curriculum at every opportunity as it was a means to engage my students. After retiring from teaching, I dove into painting full-time-- in both watercolor and acrylic media. I currently teach watercolor classes at the Southern Arizona Arts Guild (SAAG) in Tucson, AZ.

My fine artwork is on display at the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild (SAWG) Gallery and various locations in Tucson through the Southern Arizona Arts Guild (SAAG).