Art has always been a part of my life. With three grandparents as artists—a designer, a painter, and a sculptor—and a mother who shared her love of art, I grew up immersed in a creative world. From childhood trips to museums to my career, this passion has continued to shape my path.

I started teaching when many artists were finding financial success in children's book illustration. During this boom, I fostered a love for picture books in both my students and my children. My 23 years as an early childhood librarian, along with my role as a university instructor in children’s literature, deepened my connection to the world of illustration. I co-authored Worth a Thousand Words: An Annotated Guide to Picture Books for Older Readers (Libraries Unlimited, 1996) , contributed to library journals, and served on the 2001 Caldecott Award Committee to select that year’s most distinguished illustrated picture book.

Starting in the 1990s, I turned my attention to my own artistic growth, studying drawing and later earning a Nature Art Certificate from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Art Institute. Fascinated by the pen and ink  Zentangle® Method, I became a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) and now teach both at the Art Institute and virtually from my studio.