About Me
My Beginnings
My earliest memories are of drawing and painting with my Mom. She had a passion for art and encouraged her children to use their creativity. I continued to sketch through high school, but then took a long break until my 40's, when a friend encouraged me to go to an art class at the Edina art center. I met Cecile Hartlieb there and stu
My earliest memories are of drawing and painting with my Mom. She had a passion for art and encouraged her children to use their creativity. I continued to sketch through high school, but then took a long break until my 40's, when a friend encouraged me to go to an art class at the Edina art center. I met Cecile Hartlieb there and studied watercolor with her for 2 years. Next, I enrolled in the Botanical Arts program at the Como Park Conservatory, where I met Wendy Lane. Wendy introduced me to Pastels, which became a favorite medium. In 2003 I stepped out of my corporate job to pursue art. I gained a certification from the Chicago School of Fine Finishes. During the certification process I had a chance to work with Barth White, who is a master faux painting artist and painted the finishes at the Bellagio, Venetian, Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. I opened "Faux Creations" and spent 3 years painting small murals and custom finishes in client homes throughout the Twin Cities. In 2007, life dictated that I go back to my corporate job, and did not paint for 11 years.
Finding my Artistic Voice
In 2022, with the help of my mentor, Wendy Lane, I was able to understand that the favorite part of painting for me was the abstract underpainting. She encouraged me to impart my feelings onto the canvas. This led me to explore abstract and expressionism where I found my artistic voice.
My Life Today
In the summer of 2018, I picked up a brush again and explored fine art painting in oil, acrylic and pastels. In mid-2024, I was able to transform part of a pole barn on our farm into a large studio. This has helped me better explore a variety of media and larger canvases. These days, I am mostly focused on acrylic and multi-media work, wi
In the summer of 2018, I picked up a brush again and explored fine art painting in oil, acrylic and pastels. In mid-2024, I was able to transform part of a pole barn on our farm into a large studio. This has helped me better explore a variety of media and larger canvases. These days, I am mostly focused on acrylic and multi-media work, with occasional Plein Air painting that sparks a world of creativity for me.