I was born and raised in Yosemite National Park California, and still live nearby. Hiking, outdoor painting, and being in nature inspire me and spark my art. Teaching is also a joy and currently I can be found with my college students slinging paint around, or studying art and various cultures. I like the interactions and insights my students constantly share with me. Nowadays all ages are in college classes, from 17 or 18 year olds, up through retired people and beyond. They all keep me lively and on my toes. It is wonderful that nowadays there are alternatives for "older people" such as taking college art classes with no stigmas attached. The mix is always a little different, and always exciting. I learn from all of them and hopefully they learn from me.
Sometimes we go afield to paint and draw. Yosemite is a stone's throw away, and I have taken many students and classes there to enjoy the landscape, history and culture of Yosemite. It is an international place with citizens from most, if not all of the countries in the world that have come to visit. It was a real education to me growing up there and working in my family's business. A myriad of people of various languages, dress and cultures were served ice cream, a deli sandwich, shakes and fries, or other yummies by my siblings and I all summer long.
We all went away for school, and for my part, I came back with a MA in Fine Art , a choice I have never regretted.