I have been exhibiting my oil and watercolor paintings, both nationally and locally, for seven years. People and nature are my inspiration and reflect my love of live subject matter. Along with working on a larger scale, the more complex the image the greater the challenge is for me.

With people I look for colorful hair, interesting skin or distinctive clothing. For trees, which have been my focus for the last several years, the more complicated or unusual the better.

Early degrees in fine art and graphic design, complimented by extensive horticulture studies, gave me my start. Today my paintings are also influenced by the different cultures and styles I’ve experienced while being fortunate enough to travel the world.

I took my first oil and watercolor painting classes in 2008 after retiring from a large corporation. Workshops with artists Billy’o O’Donnell, Paul Jackson and Julie Wiegand have continued my education. I’m a member of the Oil Painters of American and the Heartland Art Club, which promotes artists and representational painting in the heartland.

I paint out of my studio in a barn that was built in 2010, located next to the my restored 170 year old German farmhouse in Missouri wine country.

10% of all profits are gladly donated to STRAY RESCUE of St. Louis, a no-kill shelter. Over the years, four of my eight “rescues” have come from this dedicated organization.