I was born in November of 1956 in Des Moines, Iowa. My Father told me that the flowers were still in bloom on that fall day. This may explain my love for color and nature. I was born with perfect eyesight but at the age of three I lost most of the vision in one of my eyes due to an illness. I have always believed that this is the reason that I became a visual artist.

When I was a child I loved to color and do special art projects. I spent hours and hours doing artwork either on my own or with friends. My Mother was also a very creative person and we would dye and paint Easter eggs together each year adorning them with sequins and silk ribbons. As I grew a little older I was enrolled in dance classes and remember being mesmerized by the brightly colored tous tous, stage lights and the soft pink color of the ballet slippers as well as the beautiful shiny black patent leather of the tap shoes. (This later contributed to my lifelong study of dance and to my world of creative friends.)

In kindergarten I fell in love with painting at the easel. My love of painting followed through high school where I received a scholarship to the Des Moines Art Center and spent Saturdays drawing and painting there. In 1974 I entered the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. At the same time, I was hired to work part-time as an usher at the Performing Arts Center at the University. It was during this time that I fell in love with the performing arts and when I also declared my major in fine arts/painting with a minor in photography. Upon graduating from college I moved to California where I presently reside.

This website is the culmination of thirty years of my paintings done using colorful oil paints on canvas. Each painting is preceded by several drawings and/or watercolors prior to its beginning. I choose subject matter that I find interesting and then usually complete several paintings for each series. I rely upon the source and nature of the subject matter of the piece when I am working on it along with my intuition and the paint to transcend the viewer into a visual experience created in my own style. The creative process is very exciting to me and I love being an artist.

In the fall of 2008 I will be entering the University of California at Irvine to pursue a teaching credential so that I will be able to teach art to young people. I believe that the arts are very important for young people to learn as they expand their creative talents and thinking. I also believe that as a nation, the U.S. needs to concentrate on making sure that all of the creative needs of young people are met in the visual arts, performing arts, literary arts and in music so that a complete education is offered for everyone attending school.

Thank you for viewing my artwork. May God’s love be with you this day and each and every day of your life.

Education
The University of Iowa / BFA - 1978

History


1978 - 1993 - Lived and worked in The Bay Area. (San Francisco and Marin County)

Showings included:

1984 - Open Studios
Mill Valley, CA

1986 - Zebra Series
Bannan Place - San Francisco, CA

1987 - Cow and Dog Show
Center For The Visual Arts - Oakland, CA

1989 - 100 Artists 100 Ways
Artisans - Mill Valley, CA

1991 - B.C./A.D.
Amethyst, Santa Rosa - CA

1993 - 2004 - Living and working in Topanga, California.

Showings included:

1994 - Egyptian Series
Tony's Arte - Venice, CA

2002 - Art In The Park
Topanga, CA

2004 - Topanga Studio Tour
Topanga, CA