About
I am a mixed media artist. It took me a long time to be able to say those words. I had to gain the confidence to believe that my art was advanced enough and that I was trained enough to "own" that title. It was silly. I firmly believe that if you are a creator of original works then you are indeed an artist. An artist's journey never ends, and we are all on the continuum at different places. For me, being a mixed media artist allows for my curiosity and passion to cross artistic boundaries and to take many forms. I create predominately in acrylic but also include other supplies such as ink, graphite, collage materials, and pastel. My art is influenced by the textures, colors and patterns I encounter as I live my life. They accumulate in my mind's eye and reappear in my work. I create intuitively, letting my work emerge naturally and freely. Much like life, my art evolves in layers, each tier building on what has been placed beneath it.
I did not begin my artistic journey until I was well into my 50’s. I was in the middle of my life, leaving the corporate world, and searching for things that would light me up. I longed to feel inspired. Even though I had always been interested in art, there was a single moment in time - when visual fine arts really started to take hold of me. I remember exactly how I felt and where I was. I was exploring the downtown area of Paso Robles, California. I decided to visit a few art galleries. In one, an artist was working on an encaustic mixed media piece. I was not familiar with wax, as a medium, and was fascinated. She invited me to come sit beside her and watch her work for a while. That afternoon changed everything for me! I was so inspired by her passion and creativity that I could hardly contain myself. She was so generous in spirit and with her time that afternoon. The experience opened my eyes to art in a way I had never known before. Until then, I had never really understood that art could act as a bridge, joining people, bringing ideas and cultures together, in the best way–a way that only our souls can truly understand.