Originally a watercolor painter living in Tucson, Arizona, I switched to

oil painting upon moving to Portland. Oil painting gives me the ability to bring vibrant color and interesting brushwork to my paintings that differed from my watercolor work - although watercolor is the medium I still use when traveling.

The biggest challenge I had when moving from Tucson to Portland was adjusting my pallet from the warm golds and reds of the southwest to the cool greens and blues of the Pacific northwest. It has taken awhile, but I am finally getting a handle on the many shades of greens, blues and lavenders in the landscape here. A continuing challenge is a good thing!

While I love living and painting here in the northwest, I still love to visit the desert with its rich, warm colors and love to paint them both.

My latest challenge is plein air painting: going out with my painting gear to paint the vista in front of me. Another challenge accepted.

I hope that you can see the love I have for each place in all of my paintings.