Following my high school mentor’s advice, I attended Drake University’s College of Fine Art to study commercial art in Des Moines. I soon found out that I was not ready for precision and left to study at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, focusing on figure drawing and illustration.

I came to Minnesota after many years of dreaming about living here. Having four wonderful seasons was the primary reason I moved here and once I experienced the landscape of southeast Minnesota, I was hooked. I’ve never wished to live elsewhere after that moment.

My husband and I built our solar-powered home using materials we salvaged from old barns, granaries, and schools. We planted orchards, gardens, and fields of wildflowers to harmonize with the woods surrounding the house. My environment is a constant source of inspiration for my paintings.

I also live in an intentional community that formed as a land-co-op. It is exciting and challenging to share community space with my neighbors. I have a husband, three grown children, two stepchildren, three grandchildren, and five step-grandchildren. Add a cat and dog to the mix and you will see my life is busy.

Throughout the years of raising children, building a house and business and gardening to my heart’s content, I did not neglect my art. I stayed up late and drew my sleeping children by kerosene lantern. I snuck off during naptime to sketch. I used every moment to draw and I began to paint.

I went back to school to study graphic design and graduated. Perhaps maturity has brought me full circle, or maybe it is my karma to finish what I began so long ago. It doesn’t matter why, it only matters that I continue to express myself the best way I know how with whatever medium works best.

Now I am happily freelancing; I enjoy the process of creating print media for clients, as well as continuing to improve my painting skills. It looks like there is no end to the ideas I have. Now I only need to bring the ideas to fruition.