I began painting to decorate the walls of my home with my choice of subjects, colors, and style. Being unsure of what good composition was, I began copying the compositions of one of my, and the world's, favorite artists ... Vincent van Gogh.

"It is my belief that it is actually one's duty to paint the rich and magnificent aspects of nature. We need gaiety and happiness, hope and love." van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo. I agree. And so I paint for happiness and hope.

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Making things is natural to me. I grew up with an abundance of art and craft supplies. My mother taught me to sew. My grandmother taught me to knit. My father was a metal fabricator by profession and a woodworker at home. Our family time was spent in the magnificence of nature in our national parks where I learned the names of the plants and animals that have become the subjects of my work.

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