Drawing and painting has been an interest of mine since childhood.  It was only after I raised three children and worked in public education in Ohio for 26 years that I have been able to pursue an art career.  Upon retirement, my husband, Ron,  and I  moved to our island paradise, Marco Island, in southwest Florida. Here I discovered opportunities to study art and share my love of art with others.

In 2001 I began taking art classes, first watercolor, then acrylics and finally oil.  These classes were so motivating and it was so much fun to be with others with similar interests!  Since then I have  studied painting at the Marco Island Center for the Arts, The Von Leibig Art Center in Naples, Florida, the Butler Art Institue and Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio and Cuyahoga Falls Art Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.  I continue to take classes of interest and have found that instructional videos and art shows on PBS are also helpful.

Several years ago I began painting outdoors with the Marco Island Plein Air Painters. This is one of my favorite activities now.  Who wouldn't love to paint the beautiful scenery of Florida and at the same time enjoy the sunshine, warm temperatures, nature and fellow artists.  As you view my paintings, you will see that many are outdoor scenes which I painted plein air.  Just recently, I have discovered and joined a group of artists in Ohio called the Trumbull Area Artists who also sponsor plein air outings. So whether I  am in Florida(October to May), or in Ohio (June to September), or on a vacation , I always take along my easel and painting supplies to catch something beautiful in the outdoors that I want to remember.

Today, I use watercolors, acrylics and oils to paint outdoor scenes, flowers, people, and still life.  My paintings depict the beaches of Florida, the mysterious nearby Everglades and the graceful sailboats in the Gulf of Mexico.  When I am in Ohio during the summer, I paint the green forests, farm scenes, summer flowers and lakes found in that region of the United States.  I have also completed some paintings during visits recently to Greece, Guatemala, Canada, Sedona, AZ and the New England states.

Presently I am a member of the Marco Island Center For The Arts, Marco Island Foundation for the Arts, The Von Leibig Art Center of Naples, FL and the United Arts Council of Collier County, FL.