I have loved drawing and painting since childhood.  A passion for figure drawing and fashion design could easily distract me from my homework, and my mother often found me doodling in the margins of school notebooks. Mom, who designed and made all of our clothes (prom and wedding gowns a specialty), had an great eye for design and passed her love of fashion on to me. I started with paper dolls and continued on to more serious painting.I graduated as an art major with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and have since exhibited in both juried and non-juried shows throughout New England. Over the years my art has evolved to include landscape, seascape and portrait painting. During this evolution, I also developed an interest in the way children learn. I went back to school and earned a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, and eventually a Doctorate in Educational Psychology. These degrees were instrumental in helping me carve out a career where I could help parents to understand how their children learn best, and also work with teachers to incorporate certain practices into their classroom. I have used art to develop visual aids for students as they tackled academic tasks, and encourage them to also use art as a learning tool.I have been fortunate in being able to combine my love for art with my interest in education. In helping to develop a Wellness Center at a local private school, I learned the importance of art for relaxation and meditation - for both children and adults. I teach classes on the psychology and creation of mandalas, which participants find not only anxiety reducing but revealing of talents they never knew they had!Since relocating to Kennebunk Maine from Western MA, I have discovered a love for beaches and for the people and pets who gather there to enjoy the sea air. I am creatively inspired by the energy of local pets and their owners, who love them as family members. In addition to painting lively pets, I have had the opportunity to memorialize cherished ones who have passed. I love painting their soulful eyes although I do tend to become attached as I bring them to life on canvas! When accepting commissions, I find that collaboration is the key to your satisfaction when painting your beloved pet(s). Together, we’ll decide on the medium used, whether it be oil paints or colored pencil. We’ll talk about the size and details of your painting, as well as the mood you would like to portray, based on the photos you send me. These factors will determine the time needed to complete the painting.  Sharing photos as the work progresses will enable you to comment or make suggestions, as we produce a likeness that you will treasure for years to come!