I want to live a whimsical, creative, imaginative, and magical life. From childhood on, that has always been the goal. It’s a tall order, especially in our often-harsh world. Still, nothing highlights the importance of a positive attitude seasoned with humor quite like 40+ years of teaching health and wellness as a nurse.  Thus, when I retired at the end of 2020, I dedicated the writing, photography, illustration, and general creative skills I developed in my former career to my new pursuits in writing and art. 

I spent years as a wildlife and nature photographer; photography is still a big part of my life. The natural beauty of our world will forever keep a camera in my hand, and yet, there is much I see that I cannot capture in a photograph. Photographs are perfect for capturing moments and realistic portrayals of subjects, but not the whimsical way I see life. Nature is an endless palette of textures, faces, sculptures, and paintings scattered on woodland paths and visible in the bark of trees. Especially when my imagination is in overdrive (which is almost always), I look for the creative in the ordinary. And what I cannot capture with a lens, I can create with paint. Thus, my love for painting was born.

I am a self-taught artist, photographer, writer, and armchair philosopher. My style in both writing and art is decidedly eclectic. In writing, I enjoy both the natural and imaginary worlds, often blending the features of each in my stories. Occasionally, I may chronicle an adventure or visit my past as a lifestyle coach in a blog post. As an artist/writer, I choose to see life as the continual “what if” of an unfolding story. I use photography to capture the awe I experience in nature and as a reference for stories captured in words or paint. 

My favorite paint medium is watercolor precisely because it is sneaky. Watercolor has a mind of its own, choosing to merge and blend in unexpected and stunning ways. A fussy medium, watercolor works well with my passion for experimentation and non-traditional methods. My goal is to create art that is unique and meaningful using creative washes, interesting textures, surfaces, and imprints from common environmental items. My approach to art is loose, impressionistic, and often abstract; emerging patterns and shapes inform my brush strokes. At times, I may play with other mediums and even place a well-meaning buzzing bee on a website. 

In my own corner of the world, writing and art can take me anywhere. All I need is imagination and, perhaps, some pixie dust.