I am a native california artist, wife and mother of 2. I had a little formal training at Art Center in Pasadena (right after high school) then, with my "live drawings in hand" applied for a position as a "renderer" at a Long Beach design firm. (The poor guy that interviewed me!) Fortunately, the design director was called into the meeting and, being an Art Center graduate, he must've taken pity on me and I was hired! I learned to draft up interior elevations, put together color boards, draw and "paint" perspective renderings for clients, and worked in the interior design field for about 15 years before I found myself wanting to be home with my two young children. I began a mural painting business and it allowed me to work when my fireman husband could be home with the children, keep my creative skills honed with every mural, and up to date with various workshops. After 19 years of painting someone else's ideas, I decided I was going to get serious about painting on a canvas instead and have been working to improve my skills painting "en plein air" and in the studio. I prefer portraits, since I find people's faces about the most beautiful thing in this world, but I also enjoy landscapes. With each passing year, I find myself being inspired by art of all kinds and reading about other artists. I'm excited about being part of this community!