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My inspiration.

It comes from living. God has blessed me with the ability to see art in all aspects of life; and I have been fortunate to live a very diverse life.

For the short version, find the pictures and read the bold text. If you have the time let me tell you "My Story", the foundations of my inspiration.

I grew up in a family that appreciated the arts. My father loved to paint wildlife, still life and landscapes. My mother had a beautiful voice and sang not only in church but around the house. I always thought that I would love to be an artist or a singer. I was fortunate and have experienced both in my lifetime.

We were a military family and I lived in many different places around the world.

My appreciation of nature comes from some of my earliest memories, beautiful sunsets and sunrises on the island of Guam. I loved the tropical flowers, the exotic birds, the papaya trees and the palms that surrounded our small home.We lived in a quanset hut and geckos would run across the ceiling. Bougainvillea, orchids, hibiscus and wood roses were everywhere.  Today, when I'm painting, those vivid colors and beautiful blossoms are always in the back of my mind.  I spent so much time in the sun that I looked like a native.

Later in my childhood, we lived in Hawaii.  It was then that my mother began finding little drawings and paintings around the house. She initially thought my dad was leaving rough sketches around.  I broadened my media and would make dishes and decorate them with berries to dry in the sun. I was 8 years old, I guess you could say I began my career as a dinnerware designer then. I won the school competition for artwork in the 5th and 6th grades for my impressionistic style.  Not long after that it was discovered that I needed glasses. I was amazed at the details you could see. The most memoriable was seeing the leaf details on the trees from a distance.

Though I was only 12 years old, I had gained a deep appreciation for native artwork. I spent many happy hours learning the Hula, hand making paper, and trying to re-create some of the hand-painted designs used on their fabrics.  I still have some of the original paper that I created.

The next place we lived was Washington, DC.  One of the things I appreciate about our great country is the open resources in our nation's capital. That our government provides its citizens the means to explore the heritage of our country, and does so without charging entrance fees. This was important at this time in my life. I had by then developed and been in treatment for a bone disease that affected my legs. I was in a wheelchair, which limited my participation in activities, and we did not have much money. What we had was lots of time. We spent that time in the museums in DC. 

I can still remember my first trip to the National Gallery of Art.  I had not ever seen so many beautiful things in all my life.  The paintings, sculpture, and exhibits were fascinating to me.  My dad and I spent many hours with paper and pencil in hand.  I was trying to copy so many of the great masterpieces in crayon.  I could have stayed in the galleries for days on end, everything was so beautiful there. It was in direct contrast to the plain, sparsely furnished redbrick four-story apartment building we lived in. I also remember my first trip to the Smithsonian and the Natural Museum of History. 

The original and reproductions of objects were wonderful. The idea that an individual had created them was captivating.  I envied their ability to make whatever they imagined come to life.  My dad bought a set of books on the different schools of painting that were in the National Gallery.  Those were a treasure to me.  The Flemish school was my favorite. 

I had already experienced more than some people do in a life time by this point. However, the diversity in my life wasn't over yet. Due to family circumstances I went to live with my grandmother for a time.  It was like someone turned back the hands of time 50 years.  My grandmother had a home with no electricity, no indoor plumbing and the kitchen had a dirt floor.  The wind whistled through the walls at night as I slept in the corner of my grand-parents bedroom. My bed was beautiful quilts, made by my grandma, piled high on top of an old chest.  My grandmother taught me about sewing, quilting and embroidery.  She tried to teach me to crochet, but my hands were too small.

She used to make my dresses on a treadle sewing machine. The material for the dresses came from the flour sacks at the feed store. These weren't just plain white sacks, companies had learned if they created the cotton sacks with pretty fabric it would intice the customer to purchase their goods. There we were able to choose from beautiful fabrics. Unfortunately for the store owner, I always seem to want the sacks on the bottom of the pile. I had chickens, a goat named “Happy Jack”  and a calico cat we called “Miss Kitty”.  During this time, I learned to appreciate simple things like fireflies and swinging on a front porch swing, making my own playhouse complete with furniture (Before I even knew about trends I had an "almost" shabby chic thing going). 

Life was simple and uncomplicated.  Grandma loved me and that was enough. A slice of Bologna, a Baby Ruth and a Nehi Grape soda were a weekly treat. Our glassware came from oatmeal boxes.  I remember that because the glasses were a set and matched. Even in the little things I had an eye for art. As in the Islands and in DC I was able to see the creativity and imagination in everyday life.

Then one day my surroundings changed again. I was packed up and I went back to the my family, with Grandma too.  Grandma got to share my bedroom along with Happy Jack, Miss Kitty and my chicken. It was a little like the Beverly Hillbillies without the mansion.  I ended up with more medical problems and spent a year in the hospital.  I spent a good deal of time ........... When I was able to return home it was just in time for the next adventure. My dad had orders to Japan via California. So I said “good-bye” to my cat, the goat had already been given away and the TV watching chicken had died (see what TV will do to you.) 

My family moved to California when I was in the eighth grade.  The weather was beautiful, and we used to spend time down on the boardwalk of Imperial Beach, watching the artists painting the beach scenes, girls in bikinis, and beautiful sunsets. My cousins lived nearby and we were all about the same age—Patty, Pam and I.  Patty pierced my ears with ice, a needle and a clothespin.  Tie-died shirts were in and we were very creative.  We tie-died sheets and pillow cases too. My short time in California was over and we headed for Japan. 

My high school years were spent in Japan.  It was a unique experience.  You could travel anywhere without fear and around every corner there was a temple, shrine or little shop with beautiful hand-painted porcelain or silk paintings.  I even had my portrait done in a purple plaid suit, which was very fashionable for that time.  My mother liked the portrait, but she said it didn't quite look like me.  I explained that I had taken some artistic liberty and asked him to paint my eyes green, I had always wanted green eyes. I reminded her that coloring books were only drawing paper with lines as suggestions for where to color.

I love art and the whole creative process, whether it's painting a picture or designing a vase.  It's the ability to create something that's deep within you, and somehow bring all that out for the world to see.  To be an artist is a sweet blessing that God gave me. Just to sense what it’s like to create—after all he was the first creator. 

When I look back over my life, and I think of my humble beginnings, I am amazed that my abilities led me to design things for companies like Neiman-Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Macy's as well as many other commissioned artwork pieces.  I am conscience of where my inspiration stems from and at the same time awed that I am still being inspired by my surroundings. 

I have a loving husband, grandchildren, and family.  I have friends, two poodles, and more guppies than you can imagine.  I collect frogs, artsy ones, as well as the real ones for my pond.  I have two ducks that are considering raising a family in our swimming pool, much to my husband's dismay (I guess I still have a little of that hillbilly in me.)  I have bamboo that sounds like water rushing down a stream. I have a koi pond with a waterfall, gardenia bushes, hydrangeas, plumaria flowers and much much more. Although I have surrounded myself with those things that inspired me throughout my life I also find new inspiration everyday.

It's like my bamboo  Though at times we complain about the growth and the way it’s taken over the side of our house, but it provides privacy year-round.  It's also serves as a reminder of all my years spent in Japan.  Recently, I visited the Fort Worth Japanese Botanical Garden and realized my bamboo was larger in diameter than their bamboo.  It's just another example of how life changes, and we all grow. I hope that all my life my artwork will change with the times too, bend with the trends, and inspire others to appreciate God's creation.

My other passion is gardening.  I can appreciate why God also created a garden first.  From my studio window,  I can look down and see the koi pond, Gardenia bushes, hydrangeas, and mature trees that we planted as saplings  20 years ago.  When I watch the trees out my window, and I see them swaying with the wind, they serve to remind me that we have to change, bend, and grow with every season.  In our lives, there are seasons and Solomon expressed it best in Ecclesiastes.  With every turn in your life, you have to be willing to change, experiment with new ways to express your creativity.  It's what keeps your growth as an artist and your life interesting.