My Mother was an artist. I remember coming in from school and seeing her totally immersed in painting huge wall murals for local businesses. She was having so much fun that I knew that's what I wanted to do. And I've been hooked on painting ever since!
I discovered pastels when a friend and fellow artist invited me to a pastel demonstration that Carole Katchen was giving. At the time I was having vision problems and I was trying to find a medium that was easier on the eyes than my current medium, which was pen and ink stippling drawings. Well, I just absolutely fell in love with pastels, It would be hard to match their vibrancy with any other medium. Pastels made me see color in a whole new light. I also work in oils incorporating what I've learned from pastels.