I have been privileged to live in some very beautiful places full of inspiration. I grew up and spent most of my life in coastal southern California. Then I had the good fortune to spend some years in the northern California wine country. Now I live in the awesome Sonoran desert near Tucson, AZ. I am very sensitive to my surroundings and my paintings reflect my feelings about a place that inspires me with the excitement to want to paint it.
Based on photos or sketches, my paintings become whatever my imagination transforms them into. My approach is very traditional. I start with a little pencil thumbnail sketch to lay out the composition. I may do a little color study to work out the intellectual decisions about color and design that go into the painting. Once these things are decided I can devote myself to the joy of laying luscious color on canvas. I find it much more fun to paint with the palette knife instead of brushes. People are always remarking on the exciting vivid colors and textures in my paintings.
I studied art, taking all the 2D studio art classes and art history at Rancho Santiago Community College in Santa Ana, CA. I have also taken workshops from Larisa Aukon, Brent Jensen, Richard McDaniel, Elizabeth Mowry, Sally Strand and Daniel Green. At one time I worked at Disneyland doing sidewalk pastel portraits. That was really fun! I put together a portrait class about how to get a likeness and taught that for several years through the community education department of Fullerton College.
Artistic talent is a gift. And I learned a long time ago that our gifts are given to us not for our own benefit, but to be shared and used for the benefit of others. So if my paintings bring you a moment of joy, this is the purpose of my art and my gift to you.
Selected Shows & Awards
Lazy Days of Summer
Women Artists of the West
2019 Summer Online Exhibit
June - July 2019
Winner: First Place for Sonoran Trailride
Sonoran Perspective, juried art show
Community Performing Arts Center Gallery
Green Valley, AZ
November 7 - 30, 2018
Women Artists of the West Tallgrass Rendezvous
48th National Exhibit
September 20- November 4, 2018
Price Tower Center for the Arts
Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Women Artists of the West
47th National Exhibition
McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD
Nov 5 - Dec 3, 2017
Women Artists of the West
Season's Splendor, 2017 Fall Online show
October - December 2017
Winner: Third place for Autumn Vineyard
Members Juried Show
Tubac Center of the Arts, Tubac AZ
2 Juried entries
Dec 9, 2016 - Jan 15, 2017
Women Artists of the West
46th National Exhibition
November 15 - December 13, 2016
R S Hanna Gallery
Fredericksburg, TX
Members Open Exhibition - September 2016
Tubac Center of the Arts
Tubac, AZ
Winner - Award of Merit for La Puerta de San Miguel
Wish You Were Here
National Juried Show - August 2016
Tubac Center of the Arts
Tubac, AZ
Image selected (one of twenty) to be featured
on promotional postcards for the center
Art in the Park 2016
Tumacacori National Historic Park
Tumacacori, AZ
Winner - Best in Show for SunGlow
Santa Cruz Valley Artists
Open Studio Tour
March 2016
Tubac Center of the Arts
Tubac, AZ
Members Juried Show 2015
2 Juried Entries
Showin’ on the River 2014, 2013 and 2011
Annual Juried Show
Riverfront Gallery, Petaluma, CA
Artists Round Table Diamond Jubilee Art Show 2013
Santa Rosa, CA
Honorable Mention
Marin Art Festival 2006 and 2007
Marin, California
Annual Juried Festival
Art-A-Fair Festival 1998 - 2003
Laguna Beach, CA
Annual Juried Festival
Pastels USA 2000 and 2001
Roseville, CA
Annual Juried International Show
Contemporary Pastel Impressionists 1999
Friesen Gallery, Seattle, WA
Juried Show sponsored by Northwest Pastel Society and Seattle Art Museum