CU·RI·O - a rare, unusual, or intriguing object.

I am an artist. My work is an extension of everything that makes me who I am and what I am willing to give back. Creativity comes into my life in massive waves, barreling down at me in surges, leaving me no choice but to harness everything about it. I feel the flow nagging at me to make things, and it is only after they are complete that I can move on.  

My philosophy of art is simple. It exists in some capacity for everyone. There is little difference between someone who goes through the process of creating something and the observer who watches and appreciates it.

I tend to explore a variety of mediums and decide how to proceed as I go. I use pretty much everything I can get my hands on, but my mosaic work holds a sacred place in my life. It fascinates me. Mosaic to me is a form of folk art. I began immersing myself in this art form circa 2000. Since then, I have taught countless numbers of people to break things and put them back together. The more broken, mismatched, and non-functioning materials are, the more beautiful they become. As I move through my 50s, I find myself becoming more nostalgic and eager to revisit other mediums. It’s like returning to a familiar place.

I love teaching. I can fuse my love of my art with my love of people. As much as I put into creating my work, I get out of teaching others to explore their creativity, which is one significant process.

• Professional Member of the National Art Education Association, NAEA

• Member of the Illinois Art Education Association

• Licensed Art Educator in Illinois, West Virginia and Virginia PreK-12