"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." said Picasso. For me too, this was the challenge. As a child, I drew all the time. As a teen, I doodled and drew in a sketch book: I journaled, and daydreamed. This brought me hours of peace and relaxation.

 

After high school I was accepted to Boston University School of Fine Art. A prestigious art program, unfortunately, I did not excel. Now when I look back, realized that college pretty much killed my creativity, instead of teaching me how to foster it.  I would go to the 3 hour painting or drawing classes and want to escape because I could barely stand the boredom. So when it came time to pick a major, I chose Graphic Design because I liked the idea of solving challenges visually. And I thought I didn't want to paint, because it was so damn boring. So, I started my career as a graphic designer which I did for many years.

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A series of events lead me back to my artistic creative self and it has been a 16 year journey. In 2004, my friend Deer Sullivan hosted an event she called "Herstory" a place for woman to be creative in whatever way they felt called. I dove in and made two pieces of art for the show. I felt very vulnerable and nervous doing this, but because I had recently started therapy that year I was able to venture forth. My therapist, and friend, Chuck Madansky saw that my creative self had been squashed and he gently encouraged me to be creative again. It's not about just getting out the paints again, it had to do with something deeper. I found that art making felt most meaningful when I approached it like a prayer. Discovering the poetry of Mary Oliver, David Whyte, and Rumi helped me go to that deeper place. And so I started to explore making visual images through a more patient place of looking for meaning and purpose in not just the product but most importantly in the process of art making. Making art from the heart is my goal. So I hope that your heart recognizes something in these images that my heart, muse and spirit have created.

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The other part of this story is that I am on this journey with the most wonderful and supportive man, Gerry, who I married back in 1995. We have two sons and live in Petaluma, California, where I work in my "Wabi Sabi Barn" art studio. We also spend time on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.