I believe there is beauty in the most ordinary of landscapes so I strive to capture the light and mood invoking peacefulness in the viewer. This is why I work “en plein air” whenever possible. Working outdoors develops my appreciation for the fine nuances of color in light and shade. But the most rewarding experience is the element of surprise that's always waiting...a foraging “critter”, a hidden wildflower or a fleeting ray of sunlight spotlighting something that was previously overlooked.

BIOGRAPHY

I was born and grew up in Pensacola, Florida. My fondest memories as a child are of running and playing on the white beaches and in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The warm sun, cool breezes, and sound of the surf have always been particularly soothing to me.

I married a Coast Guard pilot and continued to live near the coastline wherever our travels took us. We went from the far western Gulf of Mexico’s Corpus Christi, Texas to the northeast Atlantic Ocean’s shore of Rockaway Beach, New York. The beaches and waters were completely different in texture, color and temperature. Yet another change was in store for us when we went to Kodiak Island, Alaska. The streams, lakes, mountains and surrounding waters were an extravaganza of beauty. We ventured south again, all the way down to the western Gulf of Mexico’s St. Petersburg, Florida. After four years of exploring South Florida, we made our way to New Orleans, Louisiana, where we decided to stay.

I always had a love of art but didn’t have the opportunity to actively pursue it until my youngest of three children was in school full time. I enrolled in Delgado Community College where I received an Associate Degree of Fine Arts. After graduation, I continued studying with selected teachers in workshops and at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts. Another source of inspiration and education has been painting trips with fellow artists.

A love of water has always been a major source of inspiration and a recurring theme in my artwork. With its swamps, marshes, bayous, lakes, and coastlines, my adopted home of Louisiana has a wealth of watery settings to explore. The marshes have a particular fascination for me with their murky waters, variety of birds, beautiful grasses and vegetation. I feel there is a peacefulness and harmony with nature in the marshes unlike any other. I prefer working “en plein air” whenever possible, primarily with pastels. The realistic renderings are painted on a variety of surfaces, including sanded papers, pumice board, and pastel canvas.

I regularly exhibit in juried and non-juried local and national exhibitions. I am a juried associate member of the Pastel Society of America and a charter member of the Degas Pastel Society. I’m also an active member of the New Orleans Arts Council, New Orleans Art Association, West Bank Art Guild, and Artina. My paintings are in private and corporate collections across the United States, Great Britain, South America and Europe.