"Fearless" is the way my painting style has often been described. There is such joy in the process that it can't help spilling with abandon onto the canvas.

My initial academic training taught me a deep respect for the early impressionists. and the works of contemporary masters excited me about using form and color. As my paintings come to life, I develop a reverence for my subject and enormous pride in my craft. The landscape is my first love and is the foundation of my inspiration.

I am a colorist, color is a language. It can speak in short simple phrases; but when words or color are artfully combined, it is poetry. I use deftly applied color values and shapes to design a composition that moves easily across the canvas.

Music has always touched me deeply and is continually playing in my studio.  My musical tastes are eclectic and include all things B.B. King and Muddy Waters . Who would have thought my husband's passion for opera would have gradually influenced a deeper appreciation of the human voice as an instrument. As a result, a new musical preference has evolved and is something akin to classical funk.

Naturally, it was not surprising when my painting began to reflect that change. A bright tumble of colorful autumn grasses growing right up to a stream and continuing on to the other side is titled Coloratura. A peaceful stand of trees joined by evening shadows becomes Sonata.

Do I love what I do? Even on the less-than perfect days, there are mornings when I walk into my studio; and the smell of fresh coffee in my cup along with the lingering scent of oil paint and varnish will sometimes cause me to wonder if this is what heaven smells like.