Perched atop a ledge overlooking a native trout stream, my studio, Swallow Haven, abounds with the beauty of the northwoods, featuring landscapes, still lives and animal pastels inside and breathtaking scenery outside. I strive to paint images that people can take home with them as a reminder of the special time they’ve spent in this inspiring area. My paintings are available in many galleries in Northern Wisconsin, as well as in Door County.

Being an artist is much more than painting in my studio; it is something that follows me everywhere. Whether I am canoeing with friends, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, driving in my car or riding my horse, I see images that beg to be captured. I am constantly taking photos of things I want to paint.

In my search to acquire a firm grounding in the arts, I earned a fine arts degree at Lakeland College under the guidance of Bill and Denise Presnell Weidner. Over the years I have had the privilege to study under several gifted instructors. I took classes at the Peninsula School of Arts with James Ingerson and Rosemary Utzinger and studied with Anne Templeton, a well known southwestern artist at the Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. Even more important is the network of artists that I have painted with and learned from since I became an active artist. Critiques with them have been a valuable learning tool.My preferred medium is pastels. For canvas I use suede matboard. I am able to achieve a certain degree of softness plus surprisingly good clarity with this combination.