Biography

I was born at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, in Maryland, and have lived all over the United States. My mother was very artistic and encouraged me in painting and drawing, as a young child.

While I was still in high school I started working as an illustrator / graphic designer and I continued in that field for 6 years. In 1975 my mother died after a long, difficult illness. Disillusioned with commercial art, and searching for a more meaningful life, I left the art world and went into Nursing.

In 1994 I retired from my job as a Critical Care Nurse and began to devote myself full time to painting. Regular, frequent visits to Art Galleries, Museums, and other artists' studios has been a source of stimulation. Daily meditation and weekly plein air trips are my inspiration. Participation in ArtSpan, ARTwork, and San Francisco Women Artists has been my education.

These days I mostly work in my studio, using photographs and sketches for reference and inspiration (as well as listening to folk, jazz, and cowboy music.)

Once or twice a week I head outside to paint and/or photograph the natural and not-so-natural world of San Francisco.

I've been living in the Sunset District of San Francisco since 1987, with my husband - photographer David Sumner.