Biography

I grew up in a number of different states. I was born in Peoria, Illinois but have lived in 8 different states since then. I feel fortunate in this. I also feel very lucky to have traveled to a number of different countries and I am very blessed to now have friends all over the world.

In each and every place I have lived or visited, I have found differences in culture and attitudes but I have learned from this experience that all peoples are basically similar. We all have the same basic needs.

These basic needs include feelings of love, friendship, intimacy, security, and self-respect and esteem, and the need to communicate all this with people around us.

My experiences have placed me in touch with more than one culture and I no longer truly feel as if I am solely a North American but more a citizen of the world. I encourage you to read about one of these experiences in my blog post of The Candy Store. It is a prime example of how I have been changed by my experiences and I think also demonstrates how my experiences have had an effect on the world.

I believe my art reflects my worldly view. I feel strongly in touch with Latin cultures. In part, it’s because I speak the language and feel a connection to Spanish speaking countries but it’s also because of the commonness that I feel with all peoples.

All of these experiences have influenced me and my perception of who I am. When I paint, I use strong colors and textures. I try to capture the emotion that I am feeling directly on the canvas or indirectly. I want to reach out to people’s hearts and provoke a response. I want to express my own confidence and create emotionally stimulating and thought provoking color journeys that not only signify my art but also reach out and touch the hearts of all people.