Art is soul food. Making art heals, teaches, surprises, challenges, inspires, excites, calms, illuminates and can connect soul to soul. That is why I do it. In the process, I hope that from time to time, when seeing my art, another might know healing, learn something, enjoy an "aha moment', be challenged to action or change of thinking, be inspired, feel excitement, experience calm, or see beauty where they might not have noted it before. If I am really successful, the viewer might experience more than one of these gifts. If the viewer has even just one of these experiences, then we connect soul to soul. At that point, art is soul food for both of us.

I paint in acrylic or pastel, layering color upon color, and often finish with fine ribbons of color, only noticeable up close, in order to accentuate or soften objects in the composition. For the last few years, I've assembled collages from scraps of paper -- parts of failed paintings and colors torn from magazines. When making art, I also call upon the "unseen spirit of creativity" to guide me, and finally throw in a dose of intuition. Even then, sometimes a potential creation just doesn't work. That's when I look at the fiasco, acknowledge my current inadequacy and laugh. Since failure can be growth producing and laughter keeps us young and healthy, my unsuccessful efforts become positive in themselves. (It works for me, anyway.)

In 1979, I earned my BFA, summa cum laude, in painting from T.C.U., but because of financial responsibilities at the time, I became a stock broker and a certified financial planner. (Single Mom with a hungry brood) For 18 years, I whined (didn't help) about not having time to paint. Then, a little over 20 years ago, with the help of my son and business partner, I shortened my workweek to three days and painted the other four. Unfortunately, a life threatening illness in 2001 halted both my career and my painting. I returned to painting as I became stronger, and became stronger as I painted. I'm convinced that "making art" was a huge part of my healing.

Most of my art is a result of photos and sketches made while exploring the U.S., Mexico, abroad and locally. With every painting, mixed media or collage, my goal is to share those feelings and explorations with others through my work.