I have been creating art since childhood and have worked in all two-dimensional media including photography and found mixed media collage is the best way to complete my ideas visually. I am inspired by the visual world. Relationships between the colors, patterns, and shapes found in nature and the way they relate to the built environment fascinate me. I create images to share those relationships I find most interesting. I use cut and torn paper, found images, personal photographs, and any other scraps that fit my needs. I also love to study art and art making. I visit museums, galleries, and look at as much art as possible. I read about how and why artists do what they do. Artists that have had an impact on my work include Helen Frankenthaler, Richard Diebenkorn, Vincent van Gogh, Faith Ringgold, Marsden Hartley, and countless fellow artists that continue to inspire me. I learned volumes about art making during my 30 year career as an art teacher simply by being in the same room day after day with children as they created art. Their honest and real approach has inspired me through the years.