"All my life, I have lived in a world filled with creativity and art. I have had wonderful teachers who showed me the magic of being creative and expressive through various avenues, including drawing, painting, ceramics, textiles and other crafts. Their guidance inspired me to continue to pursue my artistic endeavors. In recent years, I have participated in numerous workshops taught by prominent water media artists. As a result, my work, like the creative environment I live in, continues to evolve. In 1989, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I was devastated when I heard the news. While I was undergoing several operations and radiation, I began to explore watercolor and water media work. In 1994, treatments ended. I feel confident that I have overcome the disease and, in the process, have gained a new perspective on what is truly meaningful to me. Now, I worry less about trivial things and enjoy the present, which includes continuing to explore the endless possibilities of watercolor, water media and collage.Gardening is also one of my interests, which is probably why most of my paintings are botanical subjects. I feel that the bright colors, beautiful transparencies and textures inherent in water media and collage give life and emotion to my work.