About Me

Originally from the South Bronx in New York, my love for art and music began at an early age. Trained initially for seven years in classical piano, I also loved the theatre, painting, and any type of arts and crafts. But while the arts has always been a passion of mine, they took a backseat in my life, because education and getting a higher degree were emphasized strongly in my family. Therefore, I went on to receive degrees in education, school counseling, and ultimately a Ph.D. in Psychology. My zeal for creativity resurfaced again, when I researched and wrote about women in midlife who transitioned from a traditional career to a creative one in my doctoral dissertation, Unleashing Your Hidden Muse: The Discovery and Expression of Creativity in Midlife.  ​The words of one of the participants, Diana Gabaldon, the author of the Outlander series of novels, were especially memorable. Diana said that “When in a state of flow, it's working - you’re not ... and when it’s not flowing, you're working. That’s like shoveling rocks uphill. Struggling for results produces the wrong results.” Her words still remain an inspiration to be mindful of what does not feel authentic and to change it.

I believe firmly in the transformative power of creativity and self-expression to guide us through life’s most significant changes. With years of experience also as a coach helping individuals to navigate life changes, when I retired as a university professor, I decided to focus a part of my own work on being an intuitive artist and writer. I needed to “feed my soul” with what I love to do. So, I understand how the creative process releases new insights, can heal emotional and physical issues, and spark personal transformation or at least, a clarity on one’s life purpose. In one example, in learning that I needed to heal my own grief instead of repressing it, I continued writing and finished my first poetry book, AUTHENTICITY, based on my life experiences. I decided to incorporate my love for creative arts and writing into my work.

My artistic process derives, in part, from a mindfulness class that I developed to help people sharpen their intuitive skills for increased self-awareness and improved decision-making. It was precisely this endeavor that made me think: What if I were to unleash my own intuitive process and allow it to take flight by way of my painting? If I were to follow this idea, it would entail letting go of any structured thinking processes and simply allow my abstract style to flow unencumbered. In other words, I had to get out of my own way and allow the intuitive process to lead the way. I decided it was worth a try and I learned quickly that my abstract style became the catalyst for self-exploration and self-expression. I started painting at that point and found that the colors, design, and movements were propelled by my in-the-moment feelings. 

As my paintings focus on an integration of color, the use of mixed mediums, movement, and my feelings, they all serve as an expression of my mood transferred into the motion of the design elements. I want the content of my paintings to evoke an emotional response through the use of the colors and textures I have chosen. My work can basically be described as having soft movements, layers of personal revelation onto a canvas, in-the-moment feelings, and intuitive guidance. 

My motivations as an artist and now as a writer focus on self-expression, a lifelong need and goal to express my authenticity, for anything creative. I am inspired by my life experiences, the environment, nature, the ocean, spirituality, love, introspection, mindfulness, and whimsy. Ultimately, everything I do is about telling a story! In fact, how we live on a daily basis is also about telling a story. Our story.