I am a native of the coast of Maine. Since I was a small child, I have been drawing, painting and creating art in some form or another, using just about anything I could get my hands on. Be it rocks, clay, papier-mache’ or even macaroni, I always had some project going. With the inspiration of my mother and grandmother, who were both painters of fine art, I picked up a brush and started to paint. At first, it was rocks and shells. As I got older, I moved on to clothing and shoes, then to furniture, and finally floors and walls. I began painting murals in the early 90’s. A friend told me her sister wanted a mother goose painted on the wall of her newborn daughter’s room. What fun! It came out beautifully and from here the word spread and before I knew it I was painting murals in area restaurants, delis, hair salons and gyms, as well as private homes. Recently, I completed my 8th Margaritas Restaurant in Livingston, NJ.
I have taken a few classes over the years at the Maine College of Art in Portland, ME, otherwise known at MECA. It was there, while attending a faux finishing intensive , I discovered a love for floorcloths. These are beautiful hand painted works of art for your floor. Handcrafted from heavyweight canvas, they add color, beauty and character to any room.
As time passed, my quest to create continued. This quest led me back to MECA to take a jewelry & metalsmithing class. I wanted to find ways to use the sea glass and beach stone I had been collecting since I was a young girl. It was here I found my passion. A love for metals, copper in particular. I find their versatility, the many tones, textures and patinas you can create, intriguing. I could work at my bench all day, surrounded by a torch and tools, hammering out new designs, mixing metals with leather, glass and stone. It is addicting. Though I am enjoying my metalwork, I continue to paint most anything. No one ever said we had to settle for one passion now do we?
Today, I live on the seacoast with my family, never having wandered far from the rocky shores of Maine.
