I was an "army brat" born on a military base in Misawa, Japan. My family was stationed in Japan, Washington DC, New York and eventually settled in Michigan, where I grew up. My father was strict, but also a very talented artist who had me drawing long before I knew how to write. I've always considered myself an artist - even during the 3 year detour I took enrolled in University of Michigan's School of Pharmacy! I love science, but I love art more and eventually found my way to Michigan's Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design where I earned my Bachelor's degree. It is there I was first introduced to colored pencils. I've included my piece, "Ladies" on my bio page, because I started it while enrolled in art school, but did not actually finish it until 20 years later, and when completed it became my first piece ever juried into a Colored Pencil Society of America International Show. I feel like it is a part of me. It helped me discover colored pencil in the beginning. It kept me in touch with colored pencil years later while completing it, and reignited my commitment to my chosen medium.
To make a living after college I worked for years in print advertising. After I got married and had three children, I felt being a full time mom was more important than my career, and created art only for myself. Occasionally I would enter a show or approach a gallery, but repeatedly ran into bias against colored pencil. That was when I discovered the Colored Pencil Society and would never doubt my choice of medium again.
With the kids through college and off on their own, my husband and I moved to Traverse City. Living on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay really inspires me. I began working at a career again in earnest and registered my company, Pencilmarks Studio in our new hometown. Trying to emerge as an artist at my age presents an entirely new set of biases, but as long as I'm creating what I want, I will continue to push forward.
