"Color Weaving III"/2001
Watercolor pencil - 5"x7"

"Color Weaving IV"/2001
Watercolor pencil - 5"x7"

Though my formal education consists of a BFA in watercolor from Western Michigan University and a masters degree, presently being pursued, in art therapy from Notre Dame de Namur, my greatest lessons and consequently best work has arose not from external courses but from internal curiosity. Curiosity, a pursuit of the unknown, has lead me to many places in travel from the rugged Australian outback to Himalayan roof top of the world. These lands, their people and cultures, have inspired an exploration of new drawing style, simply titled, "Color Weavings." Created in response to the fabric of complex visual and cultural landscapes I have encountered in my travels, they are process-oriented pieces focused on the interior landscape, communication of color, and authentication of experience.

In my travels, I have had wonderful opportunity to collaborate with many international artists and to exhibit in both France and Australia.Throughout my experiences, my interest has always been with the individual in the context of their history, culture, and physical landscape. Since arriving in the bay area a year and a half ago, my interest in the individual's story has taken new life in my experiences working with elders. From my art facilitation work with the Alzheimer's Association to my current work with Art with Elders, I have been privileged to many a long, very rich and complicated story. I am inspired by our elder's courage to create and share both visually and verbally. I join with them through shared curiosity and artistic creation and am very fortunate to travel their stories.