About

Always the first to pick up a feather, stone, shell, leaf, or insect wing—or to linger over a temporary display of light in the sky or patterns reflected in a spoon—I find wonder and beauty in things often overlooked. I have always been an observer, someone who studies and notices—long before I would have considered myself a scientist or an artist.

I moved frequently when I was younger, but was always at home observing and connecting with the world around me. Every place taught me to notice: spider webs in Hawaii; pinecones, insects, and lizards in North Carolina; pecans and black snakes in the weeds of Alabama; fallen chestnuts and urban art in Berlin; the hushed, soulful, wild marshlands of coastal Georgia; the amazing fall colors, deep winter, and endless waterbirds of Wisconsin; the naturalistic, yet highly designed, gardens of Japan; an unexpected Pete Oudolf planting that transformed an old elevated railway running through New York City, and, of course, all of the birds that visit my small New Jersey garden.

Drawing was something I discovered early and enjoyed. Although I had a natural talent and entered a few competitions, I had limited exposure to formal art or materials. Instead, I grew up around craftwork and learned what it means to create by hand. Combining that understanding with my artistic inclination, I developed an appreciation for beautiful handmade things. My appreciation deepened in Chicago, where Arts & Crafts and Prairie School influences shaped my concept of design in the everyday. Living in Japan validated and helped to cement the way I think about art and design. I was drawn to the handmade pottery, textiles, paper, and everyday objects I saw. What fascinated me most was the respect given to humble, everyday objects. A weathered ceramic bowl, handmade paper, or a carefully wrapped purchase could displayed with the same care and reverence as something ornate and gilded. I realized I do that naturally, but living in Japan gave me permission to embrace it.

In the early days of digital cameras, I took one everywhere. Photography became my sketchbook—a way to explore, understand, and capture what spoke to me. I carried cameras not to document trips or events, but to collect observations—patterns, changing light, textures, and fleeting moments that caught my attention. Many of the photographs remain just as they are while others become the starting point for drawings and paintings.

My formal education and career have been rooted in the sciences, where careful observation, curiosity, and visual thinking became part of my daily work. Life eventually became extremely full with work and family responsibilities, leaving little time for artistic interests. After becoming a parent, I picked up watercolor painting as a way to spend time with my young children and unexpectedly fell in love with the medium. I still relish the ritual of setting up, mixing pigments, and caring for my brushes. Through it all, I never stopped exploring photography and drawing.

Today, my work brings together years of observation, a love of the natural world, an appreciation for handmade objects, and a fascination with patterns, textures, and quiet beauty. Whether working in watercolor, graphite, photography, pastel, or cyanotype, I begin with observation and then add imagination.

I'm grateful you've taken the time to visit. I hope my work encourages you to slow down, look closer, and discover beauty in something you might have otherwise walked past.