My love for exploring the Pacific Coast began when I adventured on a motorcycle in the fall of my 18th year. I had just moved to California to get to know my dad, and normally at this time of the morning, I would have been in class at the local community college. But it was the weekend, and instead, I was adventuring on a small Honda CG 125 motorcycle. I was winding slowly along the sinewy coastline of Highway 1 north of San Francisco. It was here that I witnessed breathtaking coastal vistas and majestic forests, the likes of which I had never seen. Returning week after week, brimming with a sense of wonder and freedom, I experienced a connection and fascination with the earth that has never left me. The coastal shorelines and forests became more than a landscape–they became a part of me.
Fueled by this passion, in my thirties I earned an A.A. degree in liberal arts with a focus in both landscape photography and fine art. In my 40’s returning to college after raising my much loved children and needing a full-time income, I earned an undergraduate degree in geomatics and chose a career in geospatial technologies. I also earned a masters degree in geography along the way. My education and career greatly deepened my appreciation for the stories that landscapes tell–both natural and cultural. Now 20 years later and newly retired, I give free reign to the artist and historical geographer in me. I eagerly photograph landscapes, paint plein air, and read and reflect on how geography has shaped human history. I live intentionally–with a strong sense of place, spontaneity, and a heart open to beauty.
During my week, I most enjoy painting scenic landscapes near natural waters, especially where nature’s beauty and milder weather invite me to slow down and linger at water’s edge. I am new to plein air and love being outdoors and exploring landscapes, new and old. I often use my photography when scouting new locations. Kayaking, another favorite activity, also brings me close to the places I love–allowing me to explore sea coves, calm lakes, and gently flowing rivers, with the backdrop of beautiful scenery. An artist at heart, I am delighted by the interplay of light and shadow, the viscerality of rhythm and sound, the evocative use of color, and the physicality of movement–an appreciation woven deeply into my personality and pursuits.
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