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A wee bit about me.

Hello and welcome!

I live in New Brunswick, Canada, I am influenced by the beauty of where we live and the places we visit.

My art journey began in 2012 when I lost my wedding ring. What does this have to do with illustrating, you may ask? We bought a metal detector to find the ring. The following spring we took a trip, I knew my hubby would be metal detecting and I brought a set of watercolor pencils to entertain myself with on the beach.

I had not drawn since high school, I did not know that what I was doing was creating a visual journal of my vacation

When I got home, I signed up for watercolor and acrylic classes at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba. At the same time a good friend convinced me to join a figure drawing group there. I felt over my head but the other artists welcomed me and encouraged me to keep at it.

We retired to New Brunswick, Canada in 2013, I felt at a standstill, to paint better I needed to draw better. I stumbled onto a group called Sketchbook Skool (yes, it really is spelled that way). I had no idea that it would be a turning point in my artistic life. Their classes were taught in a fun, loose way by some of the best illustrators and artists in the industry. As students, we knew we were part of something very special.

I worked at it eight hours or more every day, seven days a week. One of the other students commented, “Your drawings look like they belong in a children’s’ book”. A seed was planted and I began to dream of illustrating children’s books. That became my goal and one year to the day of starting Sketchbook Skool, I was contracted for my first book.

I attended the Children's Book Academy, The Craft and Business of Illustrating Children's Books. The classes are taught by Knof/Random House Editor, Julia Maguire and Mira Reisberg. It has been an intense and valuable experience and I am grateful.

My main illustration priorities are to make the experience a personal one, provide good service and the illustration is not done until it is perfect.

When I am not working on books, I sketch from life for fun. I love watercolor and continue to hone my skills. I paint custom pieces, I work from photos and life to capture other peoples special moments. I specializes in figurative painting, people portraits, pet portraits, pet memorials as well as houses, cabins and vacation homes.

I love learning and I enjoy helping others reach their creative dreams.

Memberships

Present International Watercolor Society, Canadian Chapter
American Watercolor Society
2015- Present Florida Keys Watercolor Society
2012 - 2014 Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba

Prizes

2018 Florida Keys Watercolor Society
Mixed Media, 3rd Place
Sombrero Beach