Creating art has become one of the biggest joys of my life and seeing it touch someone else’s heart is the ultimate reward. I have created an extensive portfolio of realistic graphite drawings, as well as acrylic and liquid coffee paintings depicting mostly human and animal portraits and figures.

I was born in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, the youngest of four children. We lived in East Africa for most of my early years and, thanks to my father’s work, my family was fortunate to be able to travel extensively. Everywhere we went (China, India, Brazil, Mexico) my parents embraced local life and collected local art. Our house was filled with paintings, sculptures, batiks and folk art from our travels. When we finally returned to live in the United States, we made our home in Kansas. The unique experiences of my upbringing have inspired and enriched my art process and often find their way to my studio easel.

Variety is a must for me, and I don’t like to limit my works with one style or medium. I was a late bloomer when it came to my artistic endeavors, but my life experiences have enriched my art process and given me the confidence to explore different styles and mediums of art.

In my early artistic practice, I loved the simplicity of graphite pencils and worked very hard to capture the detailed emotion and spirit of every face I drew. Later, I was happy to discover the colorful world of acrylic and oil paints. I began combining graphite pencil with paint on the same canvas and appreciated the striking contrast and beauty that revealed itself. Most recently, I have discovered painting with coffee, which is challenging me to embrace a looser composition style. My CoffeeART lends itself perfectly to the African landscapes and animals from my childhood.

I feel that I am only at the beginning of my artistic journey. There is so much more that I can try, so many new ways to challenge myself. This journey is worth all the hard work, because for me it is both therapeutic and emotionally fulfilling.

My supportive husband, Mike, and I have been married 25 years and have three wonderful kids.