Born in Lafayette, Indiana in the 1960’s. Began drawing in elementary school. She had some formal lessons from an illustrator around age eleven. Loved Mad magazine and comics. In college (Indiana University, Bloomington) begins serious study of painting. In addition to her BFA, she travels to study in Italy. Another pivotal educational opportunity was attending a summer program through Queens College, New York. In 1989 moves to St Louis get an MFA in painting from Washington University. Has lived, painted and taught at the college level in Missouri since 1989. She spent five years teaching at the University of Missouri, Columbia. There she developed watercolors characterized by primitive drawing, animal narratives and joyful colors. She has shown her award-winning work through the Midwest.
Currently a full time artist in Columbia, MO. and a member of Orr St Studios. She paints abstract and loosely figurative work in both gouache and watercolor. Her work is distinguished by sophisticated color palettes and adventurous compositions. Major influences are Paul Klee, Picasso, Matisse, and Henri Rousseau. She continues to show through art fairs and galleries in the Midwest. Sampling of awards and shows: Watercolor USA, Watercolor USA Honor Society, Living Artist’s Magazine, Missouri Watercolor National, National Exhibition of American Watercolor (Taos Museum), River Market Regional (Kansas City).
Artist statement: The line between realism and abstraction is rich territory for invention. The nature of my work now is making my paintings rich, impossible, intuitive and cool (rational).
