Born and raised in a tiny suburb of NYC, I grew up a quirky, shy, pencil-thin young girl... Learning to trust my curiosity and inner muse at an early age felt second nature to me. Hours of deconstructing and rebuilding became a favorite childhood pastime. Full circle, this remains a trademark of the work I produce today. I remember my Dad first modeling the importance of craft and education through his work ethic. When I reflect on my own 40+ years as fine artist and teacher of the visual arts, it is clear to me how his love of learning inspired my own teaching career and the development of an ever-evolving wide range of classroom curriculum. How this helped foster emotionally stable and safe environments for young creatives became the icing on the cake. I relocated to the Hudson River Valley in 1984 amidst the completion of an MFA, with honors, from Syracuse University. Career highlights include: National Endowment for the Humanities / grant recipient; Skidmore College / 2 summer printmaking fellowships; with additional studies conducted in Florence, Italy and Santa Fe, NM. Select awards have been received from the Palm Spring Art Museum and NAWA (National Association of Women Artists), along with recognition in the Smithsonian Institute Archives of American Art for greeting card design. (Thank you, Jim Mullen!) Known widely in past years for my unique approach to the etching process, I have exhibited in juried competitions nationally as well as in galleries of the Mid-Hudson and Metropolitan area.