My grandmother was an artist … painter, ceramicist … who put a brush in my hand when I was just two. I fell in love with paint and color, the smell of turpentine and the weight of the brush. When I was seven, she framed my oil painting of two awkward-looking spaniels standing under a tree, and hung it in their dining room. She had put other drawings and paintings of mine on the walls, but always with tape or thumbtack, so this fine frame was special. I learned so much from her and cherish the hours we spent painting together.

I currently work from a studio in Indianapolis as a graphic designer and illustrator. I also paint in various watermedia, often using graphite, pastel, collage elements and hand-cut stamps in my projects. I love the magic of watercolors and acrylic inks, the mix and flow of colors and the unexpected results. Combining the unpredictability of water media with my more controlled drawing style is a challenge and a thrill. I enjoy painting flora and fauna, but people have always been my favorite subjects. When I broke my wrist several years ago, I couldn’t paint for about a year due to nerve damage. I started using old credit cards and palette knives to push acrylic paint around on canvas and paper. It was sheer fun, and I continued with it long after my injuries healed.

With a degree in Industrial & Visual Design, I’ve worked over the years in publication and book design, magazine and book illustration, retail advertising, logo and product design. During high school and college years, I painted sets and built props for a childrens’ theater, painted cords for college seniors, (you’ll have to be a certain age to get that!), and worked as a floral designer.

In recent years I’ve gained instruction in classes and workshops from some truly wonderful painters. These include Jerry Brommer, Marilynn Derwenskus, Jean Grastorf, Polly Hammett, George James, J. Anna Roberts, Toph Schink, Warren Taylor and Rosemary Lawton Thomas.

In my studio, which is lined with windows, Tillie can often be found lying in a sunbeam. The stories about her, posted in the DogsBlog, are mostly fictional. If she had had the opportunity to lead a heist at Starbucks, though, I’ve no doubt she would have eagerly done so. Mo suffered her antics with patience and resignation.

One of the things I enjoy most about painting is meeting fellow artists. In classes, workshops and arts organizations, all types of painters may be found and they are some of the best people I’ve met. Whether trading tips, borrowing and lending supplies, or witnessing their creativity and talent, these meetings are always a joy and a privilege.