Growing up in New York with my family of artists gave me the direction I needed to continue in their footsteps. I have a fine art degree in music, but later was drawn to painting, studying with the acclaimed artists Daniel Greene and Albert Handell. I specialize in portraits and figures drawing from foreign and American subjects from my travels. My work has been widely presented in group and solo shows, as well as in national and international juried exhibitions, earning many honors. I have taught pastel painting and portraiture, and have served as judge for art exhibitions and art fairs. As a long time pastel artist, I found the artist in me was also attracted to other art forms including gilded glass, jewelry and, most recently, the poetry represented in this book. I happily live in Oregon with my husband Rob, grandson Mateo, three dogs Daisy, Flower, Lucy, and two cats Dali and Lulu.