I am a self-taught artist finding my voice since 2020.

I can still see little-me ripping open the cardboard packaging of my Weekly Reader in the late 1960’s. I so wanted to be in that treetop at the end of P.D. Eastman’s Go Dog Go!

As a child, books and art were a huge part of the world that I could see in my peripheral vision. Weekly visits to my grandparents’ home were literally lined with books, over 17,000, all catalogued. When we went to my aunt and uncle’s home for family gatherings, I was enchanted by my uncle’s drawing studio just off the living room and the space in the basement for painting. I was curious and in awe. My cousins also drew very well. Rather than inspiring me, this intimidated me. While I would do little drawings, I didn’t take an art class in high school or college, other than art history. Still, through the years, friends and family were encouraging and I would have moments when my art bubbled to the surface. Mostly, though, all my creativity went into teaching French. When I was approaching retirement and people asked what I was going to do, I replied, “I’m going to do my art.” I didn’t even know what I meant.

Having taught French for over 30 years, I saw my role as a bridge-builder, wherein the language was the means to connect my students with people and places, practices and perspectives other than their own. We exchanged letters with children in Senegal, Togo, Burkino Faso, Haiti, and France and traveled to Quebec and France.

Writing and illustrating for children is another form of bridge-building: Connecting children with creatures and kiddos, places and heroes, real or imaginary.

 While this world is now topsy-turvy, kids and kid lit keep me hopeful. I tend to channel my angst about our current climate into my other art, but focusing on children changes my lens and propels me to move beyond the angst into possibility and a magical space.

I generally illustrate in Procreate, but will often start with a painted background and/or collaged pieces that are scanned into the work.

If I’m not in my art studio, you might find me out walking or running, or maybe hiking with my husband. Or you might look for me at the yoga studio or in one of the many nearby museums. Maybe you’ll find me in the kitchen figuring out what to do with our latest batch of veggies from the CSA… or sitting at the kitchen table with a latte doing word games. Or I might be playing or reading with my grandchildren. Now, if I’m not any of those places, I might just be pet-sitting thousands of miles away or off on an adventure…