I grew up in Los Angeles County and attended San Fernando Valley State College as an art major. SFVSC was a new college then, and the Art Department was staffed with a young faculty eager, it seemed, to light the world on fire. A job with the telephone company kept me financially independent but prolonged the years as a student. As a junior, I volunteered in a tutorial project working with elementary school children. Inspired by the opportunity to contribute, I joined VISTA serving my term at an urban drop-in center sponsored by the University of Rhode Island.

Eventually graduate studies became possible, and I returned to school to work on my masters. My husband, Paul, and I were married a year later, when he also returned to college to earn a degree in electronic engineering. We had little money, but our lives together as students were uncomplicated and wonderful.

Our son Peter was two when we moved to Nevada County in 1983. I spent the early years at home, but little by little eased back into the art world and had my first instruction in painting in 1986. A turning point was reached in 1990 with the first woman instructor I had ever had in a studio class. Since that experience, there has been an element in my painting that reflects a longing to undo the earlier educational oversight. I believe that there is a valuable difference between the male and female visual statement and that there is a need for balance.

PICTURES:

1. Peterson Trethewey with game and pieces of his invention, 2. California Sister on Ceanothus, 3. Pacific Tree Frog on oregano, 4. Photoshop Self Portrait, 5. Narcissus triandrus, (Thalia), a favorite bulb, 6. De Stijl VW, to suggest the transitional years not mentioned in the bio, and 7. Paul's saxophone