I grew up in Rochester, New York and have always enjoyed creating, especially drawing, painting, beading, and crafting. While I would have liked to have pursued a career in art, I was steered towards pursuing an education in science and received an MS degree in Horticulture from Cornell University. In 2016 I retired from WSU as a professor of horticulture. Since retiring and moving to Spokane to be closer to my family I have been able to pursue my goal of learning to paint with watercolors. I feel fortunate to be in Spokane where I can learn from the wonderful painting teachers in the area. I enjoy taking classes and getting to know other painters as I strive to learn and improve my watercolor skills.

With my background in horticulture, I frequently paint pictures of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, but I also often make pets, animals, and people the subjects of my paintings. I’m still developing my own style, but I like to use bright colors, especially the quinacridones and other transparent staining colors. It is the transparency of watercolor that makes it enticing for me. I enjoy the challenge of watercolor painting and like to try new techniques and materials, such as painting on Yupo paper. I find my peace and joy in art … learning, creating, and painting.