About the Artist

As a painter, I work primarily in the soft pastel & oil mediums.  Born and raised in Kansas City, I was always artistically inclined and exposed to art and music at an early age.  I did studio art that mostly focused on graphics, drawing, photography, print making and studied piano throughout school.  After raising children and retirement from a corporate career, I realized I wanted to express my creativity through art again, in spite of the long hiatus. 

Five years ago, I started back with graphite drawing, then oil painting where in a workshop, I was introduced to the wonderful world of soft pastel and was astonished by the renaissance of this incredible medium.  I am enamored with pastels given their luminous, immediate and versatile applications in painting and their ability to refract light like no other medium.   

My subjects generally find me and vary as does my style; be it from realism to impressionism.  

A consistent theme of my work is capturing dramatic light, shadows, contrasts and textures be they in a landscape, an urban scene or still life.  I am moved by expressions in color which I believe transcends language.  

The goal of my work is to evoke an emotional response, a sense of place, reminiscence, and a reverence for color and light.  For me, painting is entering into a familiar yet imaginary dimension with the intent to invite the viewer to enter the space.  There is an alchemy involved rendering 2-D platforms into 3-D illusions that is both the pleasure and intellectual challenge in creating a painting. 

I work out of my studios in Shelter Island, New York and Richmond Virginia, and continue professional study and mentorship with nationally acclaimed artist, Linda Richichi, of Sarasota FL & Menton France.

Art Society Memberships:

• Southeastern Pastel Society
• Mid-Atlantic Pastel Society
• ARTSI - Artists of Shelter Island, NY
• Board Member - SIAC - Shelter Island Artist Community

Awards & Shows:

• 2025 & 2026 - ARTSI, Open studios tours, Shelter Island NY
• 2024 Ram's Head Inn, Summer Artist's Series, Shelter Island NY, August featured artist
• 2024 Best in show & 3 Blue ribbons, Tuckahoe Women’s Art Show – Richmond VA
• 2023 – Blue ribbon designation Tuckahoe Women’s Art Show – Richmond, VA.

Additional Workshops with internationally acclaimed pastelists:

• 2022-24 – Lana Ballot, Luana Luconi Winner
• 2023 – Tara Will
• 2023-22 – Sanghita Phadke
• 2021 – Tony Allain & Lisa Ober
• 2019 – Lyn Asselta