"We don't see things as they are,    we see them as we are." Twenty five years ago, I began to paint.  Five years ago I began to paint again.  As a full-time wife and mom my life has been joyfully busy with the blessings of home and family.  For the past 20 years, raising my children to take their place in the world has been an awesome source of creativity, challenge and growth . . . a period that I`m so very grateful for.   Throughout those years, my love of color and design were expressed through my gardens, the restoration and decorating of our 65 year old stone home, and many years of volunteer work as a layout artist for various fund-raising publications. In 2001, I began to explore once again the joy of painting that had been on hold.  "Painting again" began for me by extensive reading and research, direct observation and copying from the masters.  From enjoying the works of John Constable and George Innis to contemporary artists like Dan Gerhartz and Ken Auster, this new journey has enriched my life and stirred my soul.  Happily, it continues today with plein-aire & studio work and ongoing studies. I reside in northern New Jersey with my husband, three daughters, and our dog Jackson.  My studio in New Jersey is right off my kitchen in the heart of my home.  I also paint from my summer home on the Cape, overlooking Cape Cod Bay. Artist Statement      "Painting for me has been an on-going evolution of discovery and pure joy.  From packing up my stuff, to anticipating what I will find in nature to capture my heart, the entire process has been full of faith to believe, hope to accomplish and love and appreciation for the people and places I have  known and seen and along the way.  In my focus on the use of  form as I observe it, or, sometimes just as I`d like it to be, the natural landscape is a never ending source of inspiration.  My hope is that through my painting I can capture some of the extraordinary beauty of the world I see, and record and translate it to my canvas.  In doing so, I may understand better the peace and simplicity of nature as it exists around me, and let the viewer dream as well." Memberships  Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society  Cape Cod Art Association  The Art Center of Northern NJ.  Art Studies Parsons Shool of Design, NYC, NY Ramapo College of NJ  Contemporary Arts The Ridgewood Art Institute Cape Cod Art Association Max Horbund at the Art Center of Northern New Jersey