I fell in love with oil painting at a very early age. My mother enrolled me in private art lessons from the time I was twelve until I graduated from high school. Although my passion for oil painting never waned, I pursued a history degree from the University of Texas at Austin. After retiring from a successful and gratifying career teaching high school social studies and writing curriculum in the Austin ISD, I immediately enrolled in professional art classes with Austin master artist Elizabeth Locke. My love of art history and my early education in the fundamentals of oil, pastel and charcoal work all came back to me the minute I stepped into Elizabeth's studio. I studied weekly with Elizabeth for five years until her retirement in 2019.

After my studies with Elizabeth ended, I pursued a professional art career. My art education continues by attending workshops with nationally known artists, participating in art conferences around the country, and maintaining memberships and participation in professional art organizations.

Plein air painting inspires my work in the Central Texas scenery and landscape. Being a native Texan, inspiration is not hard to find. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center near my south Austin home and Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg have inspired my award winning paintings. I am proud to have received an Honorable Mention Award from the Oil Painters of America on my first submission as a professional, as well as numerous awards (including plein air painting awards) from my local affiliations.

As an artist, I believe it is important to understand the nuances and details of my subject before I paint it. It is not that I want to capture excessive detail in my artwork, but instead I want to capture the energy of my subject. Every painting tells the story of the artist's impressions, but once the viewer sees it, a new story begins. That is my purpose...that my art will inspire countless stories and bring joy, comfort and hope into the lives of many.

I am so thankful to have a very supportive husband of 42 years, as well as two awesome grown sons and a super daughter in law!