The Journey

   I was introduced to painting at an early age; my father would let me tag along when he was painting "en plein air" in the countryside of Normandy in France where I was born.  It was a serious hobby for him, and even as a child I could sense how intense he became once he picked up his paintbrushes.

 I studied drawing and painting while in school, and continued to draw and paint throughout the years. My formal art education took place as an adult when I obtained a BA in Studio Art from the College of Charleston in SC in 1976 with emphasis on drawing and sculpture. I studied with  William Halsey and John Michel, and both of them emphasized the process of creating art and the importance of taking chances. I worked  mostly in abstracts at that time, and it gave me the opportunity to experiment with colors and compositions.  My work was on display in local galleries in Charleston SC in the 1980's  including the 1980 Spoleto Invitational Show at the Gibbes.

 In the mid 1980's I obtained a Master's in Clinical Counseling at the Citadel, and worked as a psychotherapist for fifteen years.  I continued to paint during that time and my goal was to return to painting full-time which I was finally able to do in 2002. 

I am especially interested in capturing colors and light accurately. As I travel, I make small sketches and take photographs for reference to help me once I get back to the studio. I like the versatility of acrylics, but have painted in oils and worked with pastels in the past.
I currently teach a class on mixing colors (color theory) at the Recreation Center on James Island SC.