Artist Info

I was born in Illinois, spending summers in the remote boundary waters of northern Minnesota, where I first nurtured a deep appreciation for the outdoors and wildlife. After college and a few years of teaching in Illinois, I settled in southwest Florida, finding the beauty of Little Gasparilla Island, where I cared for the island's sea turtles and shorebirds...a never-ending inspiration. 

My education includes a B.A. in Fine Arts and Elementary Education from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master's Degree in Mathematics from the University of South Florida. For many years, the education field occupied my attention while I taught elementary students, created programs for gifted students, authored curriculum materials, and lead teacher workshops. Upon retirement in 2010, I attended classes to become a Florida Master Naturlalist and began to focus my attention on art and a painting career. 

I have continued to be involved in education, writing and receiving grants for outreach education and stewardship projects, while mentoring youth exploring conservation issues. I was a primary permit holder with the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission for sea turtle data collection, education, and strandings on Little Gasparilla Island for over twenty years. I also volunteered year-round as a shorebird monitor with the Florida Shorebird Alliance. Learning about local birds and their nesting and feeding habits provides me with hours of observation and photo opportunities that directly affect the realism of my painting subjects. My involvement as the Education Director of Venice Audubon allows me to share my birdwatching enthusiasm and knowledge with elementary students in over sixty classrooms every year. 

As a part of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection water quality monitoring network for over twenty years, I participate in water testing and collect monthly samples for analysis. The quiet dawn monitoring time allows me to observe nature and appreciate the beauty of the environment, translating directly into my art.

My connection to the art of my surroundings and mentoring of youth has led me to edit and illustrate three conservation activity books on Florida turtles and tortoises, which have been translated into several languages and distributed free to youth worldwide. I recently co-authored and illustrated an activity book about the importance of native Florida plants for birds. I have worked as a watercolor instructor at art centers and in informatl settings. Currently I  exhibit my work in various Florida festivals where I have been honored as a featured artist and have won numerous awards. I have also enjoyed a U.S.Department of the Interior opportunity as an Artist in Residency at Big Cypress Preserve. Watercolor painting continues to be a priority in my life.