Honoring the Beauty of California through Painting
My paintings come to life through a blend of drawings, photographs, and imagination, adding and removing elements to capture the essence of each scene. My process begins outdoors, where I immerse myself in nature’s inspiration. Photos taken on location and personal influences shape how the scene unfolds on my canvas.
My journey as an artist began in childhood, spending hours in my coloring books. Growing up in Santa Barbara, California, art was always my strength in school, and after high school and some time at city college, I knew I needed to venture out to find my true path. Seeking fulfillment beyond secretarial work, I took a leap and moved to the East Coast with just a suitcase.
In Boston’s corporate and real estate sectors, I continued searching for something deeper. This led me to Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts, where I found true happiness in creative study. Graduating in the 80s with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, I returned to Santa Barbara in the early 90’s. Continuing to balance a corporate career, I painted in the evenings and exhibited at the local art show every Sunday for 19 years.
Now settled in Ventura, California, I am grateful to be painting full-time, working primarily in my studio, yet I still do get outdoors to paint on occasion.
I’m honored that my work is appreciated worldwide, with originals and reproductions displayed in hospitals like Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where they offer comfort and healing for generations to come. For this I am deeply grateful. My goal is to inspire joy and connection through my art to all who view them, just as creating them has enriched my life.