I call my art style 'realistic impressionism'. I am inspired by the works of landscape artists such as Guy Rose, Edgar Payne, Granville Redmond and Georgia O'Keeffe. In addition to landscape painting, I enjoy painting gardens and flowers. I use a variety of media including oil, acrylic, pastel and watercolor.

I was born in Pasadena, California and grew up in the Los Angeles area. Art was always my favorite subject in school. I took every art class I could at Alhambra High School. I received a scholarship to study at Art Center College of Design on Saturdays while still in high school. I entered and won awards in art competitions held by the city of Alhambra. I went on to major in art at Pasadena City College, UCLA, and California State University Northridge. I left southern California in 1980 and moved to an area 60 miles north of San Francisco called Sonoma County. I have lived here since then and have found this area inspiring - from the rolling hills, the oak trees, the vineyards, beautiful valleys and dramatic coastline - it is truly a feast to the senses.

I enjoy traveling throughout California and the Southwest, painting and photographing the wonderful and varied landscape. My favorite areas to visit are Yosemite and Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and south of the bay area around Monterey and Carmel. I love Native American crafts, and enjoy creating decorative containers out of hard shell gourds. I have studied with artists Ben Sakoguchi, James Valerio, Saul Bernstein and most recently took a workshop with nationally known artist, Armand Cabrera. I am a member of a painting group called the Monday Morning Painters. We meet in locations throughout the wine country region to paint en pleine aire (outdoors, on location). I have won awards in all media I use and have exhibited in shows throughout Northern California.

When not painting, I spend time with my husband, Michael, riding our tandem bicycle, hiking, gardening and playing with our two Border Collies.