I largely work with oil pastel on  a black surface, generally on hand prepared pastel board or watercolor paper.  Some new work is acrylic or oil on a variety of surfaces.  I continually experiment with different mediums and grounds.  I began my working career in music.  As time has gone by I have discovered a new love--visual art.  But I bring music with me.  Tone, color, rythym, melody all appear in a painting in different form.  But I didn't know that until I started to paint.  What a surprise to discover 'ya gotta have rythym!'  I have certain goals in art and whether they are acheived is up to the viewer.  I think because I started as a performer before an audience, my audience is still important to me.  I see art as a communication between the artist and viewer or listener.  I want them to see what I see. Love what I love.  Laugh when I laugh.  I strive for an emotional connection through a visual language.  What fun!  I think it is important to find a 'first voice'.  That is not painting what you think you should.  Not overlaying it wath some definition of art.  That's up to the viewer anyway.  Someone important whose name escapes me at the moment said, "in the end, enthusiasm is more important than discipline."  It is the artist's main job to find that enthusiasm.

Exhibitions/Shows:

Midcoast Arts, Moline, Illinois August 2005

Quincy Women’s Center, Quincy, Illinois June 2004

People’s Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa , November 2003 and again in 2006

Perlow Stevens Gallery, Columbia, Missouri, July 2007 group show and again in 2009

Outside The Lines Gallery, Dubuque, IA, July 2008

Brio Gallery, Galena, IL, Octobr 2009 solo show

Corporate Collections:

Keller Rohrbach, LLP, Seattle, Washington

University of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA

Private Collections:

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Evanston, Illinois

Naperville, Illinois

Dubuque, Iowa

Falls Church, Virginia

Seattle, Washington

St. Louis, MissourEducation:

Bachelor of Arts, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Post graduate, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA; Clarke College, Dubuque, IA

 Galleries:
Art Oasis, Amana, Iowa

Brewery Pottery Studio, Mineral Point, Wisconsin