My Background

I have always loved to draw and paint, but, after majoring in Fine Art in college, I took a 30+ year hiatus from art and began training and showing horses professionally.  After many years, I began to paint again and a series of circumstances and life changes lead me me to a position as Executive Director at a non-profit gallery and art center in Bonham, Texas. Surrounded by artists and their positive energy, the desire to create grew stronger. My husband and I retired to NM in 2020. Inspired by this enchanting place, I  enjoy producing colorful paintings because I believe color makes people happy.  

I paint primarily with acrylic and sometimes work in mixed media, utilizing found objects. The palette knife is perhaps my favorite "brush" and I often use a black canvas to produce a particular effect in my paintings.  Working with the palette knife loosens up my approach to the subject, freeing me from getting lost in minutiae. Add some happy, upbeat music and that makes the creative juices flow. As an artist, music often influences my work. 

The Placitas area affords many opportunities to hike and commune with the natural landscape. Plein Aire painting takes me outdoors, in view of the beautiful mountains, mesas, arroyos and sky, and I paint both plein aire and in studio from photos I take when viewing those magical locations.  Additional inspiration for my paintings comes from experiences and emotions, and I often let my imagination lead me, because I believe painting "from one's head" uses a different part of the brain than painting something I see in person or from a photograph. When I teach a class, I also learn a lot about myself and my art and am inspired by sharing.