Art has always been an important part of my life. I was born in Arkansas and was fortunate to attend public schools where art was always included as part of the curriculum. I was entering art competitions as early as third grade and painted murals on the walls of faculty dining rooms in high school. After moving to Virginia for my last two years of high school and attending the College of William and Mary as a Fine Arts major, I concentrated my artistic efforts on interior design. I spent twenty three years in the field of Interior Design in Atlanta Georgia, where continuing education courses emphasized color theory, space planning and barrier free design. During that time, I served as president of two professional interior design organizations, drafting the legislation that defined the profession for the state of Georgia and set guidelines for the minimum standards for the practice.

After re-locating to Fripp Island, SC in 1996 I returned to my first love of painting. Having worked mostly in oils and acrylics in the past, I took many classes in watercolor and found a new passion. I love the spontaneous things that happen in watercolor and the glowing transparency that is not possible with other mediums. My membership in the Beaufort Art Association brought me many new friends who shared by love of art and an opportunity to grow as an artist. I take as many courses with nationally known artists as possible, and find that I take something important from each new instructor..

I find a great many similarities between interior design and the planning of a successful painting. Color plays the most critical roll in both, and the colors selected along with the placement and intensity of each hue affects the focal point and mood of the finished painting or room design. Careful planning and placement of furnishings or elements within the painting make the room livable and inviting and the painting an interesting vista that holds your attention and lets you wander through adjoining elements with ease. My biggest challenge is fighting the urge to include every detail.

I am so very fortunate to live where everywhere you look is the inspiration for a new painting. I am awed by the incredible light at the ocean and marvel at all the creatures who share this beautiful space. I particularly like to paint the shore birds, deer, sea turtles and other “creatures” of the island and marsh. I only wish I had been able to re-start my painting career earlier. There is so much to do and too little time.

I welcome commissions and have done everything from favorite scenes and homes to special pets. A series of paintings created for Barnsley Gardens Resort in Adairsville, Ga. is sold in their gift shop. I also was commissioned to do a series for Pinckney Retreat in Beaufort and have a series on the Beaufort Inn that is sold there and used in promotion. I also do custom framing in my studio on Fripp Island and enjoy playing golf as often as time allows.