Media you work in?
I enjoy working in acrylic the most but also work in watercolor, oil, charcoal . . . the medium I choose depends on my mood and subject matter.

Favorite pieces to create?
I am fascinated by people. Whatever the medium they usually involve or are of people that have touched me in one way or another.

What's the most daring thing you've done?
Working large! I have worked on canvas 4' by 5' but with my students, we painted a mural 30' by 50' and built and painted three three dimensional whales on a third of a foot scale.  But the most daring was this year when I worked with
my National Art Honor Society students to create an art cookbook that incorporated student and professional artwork along with recipes submitted by local residents.

Advice to encourage women to pursue their creativity?
My first response to this question is "Go for it!" My second, surround yourself with smart and creative individuals who will inspire you.

What led you to become an artist?
I can't remember a specific moment or encounter. When I was young, an early teenager, I lived in Holland and traveled extensively taking in the culture and art. I learned to appreciate at an early age. I do remember, when I moved back to the states, walking around my new high school and seeing the art classroom. I recall the feeling of excitement and feeling like I was home - it was the studio setting that made me feel at home. I have always needed to create.  As a young girl I used to design 

homes, hotels and restaurants. I had drawers filled with scrap pieces of paper that contained designs and ideas.

How do you overcome a creative block?                      I work through it! I work on techniques, experiment with media, shop for art supplies, and talk with other artists.

Greatest Creative Challenge?
To expressively put what is inside my head and my heart on canvas and overcoming the fear of being judged for it.                                                         
Knowing that all art is subjective, how do you deal with criticism?
I bite my tongue!  I understand everyone has their opinion but I have to create for myself. If I painted only to sell, to please the masses, I would feel like I was selling myself out.

How do you know a piece is finished?
A piece is really never finished but yet you can easily overwork a piece. There are a few paintings I have that I want to take down off the wall and work on but I like them becuase of this.  My mind fills in more information than what is there and in my mind the vision of the end result changes daily.  If I overwork a painting it dies, it becomes uninteresting for me.

Do you have a buyer in mind when you are creating a piece?
What are the characteristics of that     buyer?  Never!  I am not interested in painting to sell.  I am inspired to paint what moves me.  When I sell a piece I am pleasedmy work is appreciated. If I am commissioned to do a painting, I paint the subject matter required but it is my
interpretation of it.