How It All Began

I was content and grateful to be in a 33-year career as a federal executive. I assumed I would do this until someone carried me out on a gurney or until I felt I had saved enough to retire—again, the gurney.

But life can surprise us with unanticipated sharp curves. In 2017, my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died six weeks later.

In the midst of my grief rose this unrelenting drive to create. I began collecting every type of paper, pencils, inks, rocks, fabric, and color, color, color.

Images and photos cried out to be sketched and would not be silenced. Even while still at my day job, I would get up in the middle of the night to work out on canvas or paper whatever energy welled up inside.

In the meantime, my dad, then 82, was grieving, alone, and suffering from his own health challenges. I knew I had to be with him. I saw a window to retirement and jumped out of it!

Suddenly I became a full-time caretaker but I also turned my home office into a very small art room. It got crowded in there quickly! So shortly after completing a room for dad in our house, we saw the opportunity to build out a larger art space right next to his room. He had a hand in supporting this project, both financially and emotionally. Sadly, dad passed away about the time the art room was completed. But he saw its beginnings and approved.

What I Create

It is not at all surprising to me that my first pieces all went to dear family and friends. The creations were inspired by what I knew about them, combined with my love for who they are. My favorite form is collage, and I love using any material that adds texture. Discovering new color combinations and effects is addictive! I also enjoy finding interesting ways of framing my pieces or giving new life to old frames.

“Love’s Art” seems to fall into three broad categories. Some pieces feature themes from nature. Others celebrate serenity and mindfulness. Still others are tributes to the past. I am particularly fond of vintage items, ephemera, and old photos—especially those that feature women.

As long as love’s inspirations keep coming, I simply continue to be its instrument, knowing that there is someone with whom these offerings will resonate. I hope you enjoy browsing these love-bourne pieces as much as I enjoyed creating them.

It is important to me that this art go to those who will appreciate it, and also that the proceeds go to causes that I deeply believe in and appreciate. So, the proceeds go to organizations that are supporting the empowerment of women around the world. One of those is FINCA, which, for more than 30 years, has been enabling women in some of the poorest conditions to access credit and other financial services so that they can create and grow their own businesses (microfinance).

Another organization is called the Fistula Foundation, which provides medical care to women who have suffered rape and have been rendered physically impaired and ousted from their homes due to the stigma of their condition.