I am an integrated artist and designer who works with anatomies both plant and human. I was born in Indiana and grew up in Ohio and North Carolina. I graduated in 1988 from East Carolina University with a BFA in Textile Design split between surface pattern and sculptural/woven and non-woven textiles. My graduation gift was a year of travel in Asia – Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Bali. This was an incredibly inspirational and transformative experience which has influenced my work to this day. I took many photos in Asia, honing my photographic skills and gathering reference material for future designs and art. I re-entered the US by way of LA and from there I took a train to visit graduate art schools in San Francisco and Chicago and finally departed the train in Philadelphia. I remained in Philadelphia and applied for an apprenticeship at the Fabric Workshop & Museum, a non-profit organization, and was accepted. It was exciting to assist well-known artists in creating their fabric artwork, and I designed and printed my own fabric. In 1990, I moved to NYC with several other visual artists to begin a career in textile design.

Although, my preference was to design woven and printed fabric for interior spaces, due to limited interior textile design opportunities during the recession at that time, recruiters steered me towards apparel work. My first job was in a freelance service studio in the heart of the fashion industry. Here I learned a great deal about matching colors, designing and creating original work that prepared me for full-time work in many iconic New York brands, such as Liz Claiborne, Banana Republic, Gap, JCrew and many more. Ironically, despite having no floral designs in my portfolio when I arrived in New York, I quickly became known in the industry for my flower and botanical work and came to love the imagery. I was one of the last traditional board artists at Liz Claiborne, often painting tropical and botanically inspired textile designs. Always seeking the time to create my own original art, I felt limited by the “digital box” and the stressful working conditions in the industry, so I enrolled in massage and reflexology school, another passion of mine. Beginning my bodywork business in 2007, I was able to enroll in botanical art and illustration classes at the NY Botanical Garden. At last, I had found my artistic niche! Over the years I have devoted considerable time to fine-tuning my botanical artwork skills, preparing me for the work I create today.

Excitingly, I have had the opportunity to exhibit my work in group shows in NY and NJ. This fall I will be part of an annual studio tour in South Orange/Maplewood area. I also participated in Inktober this year – an annual challenge to create ink-inspired art for 31 consecutive days. My work can be viewed on Instagram

Since the pandemic began, I have devoted more time to my creative endeavors. From making seashell pendants, to hand-painting carpets, to botanical paintings. Excitingly, I have several commissions for new artwork. I continually seek and remain enthusiastic about new opportunities to create paintings, drawings, whether on traditional media, or electronically on the iPad or computer. I thoroughly enjoy the reactions to my work and I always look forward to engaging with the public when viewing my art.