I always knew I wanted to be an artist. As a small child I would draw on anything I could find. My teachers recognized my talent and encouraged me to follow my dreams. My parents, being of modest means, had more "practical" dreams for me. So I married and started a family. In 1988, with my children almost grown, I finally embarked on a painting career. Having no formal training, I was hesitant to call myself an "artist". Yet there was an immediate demand for my work. I entered and won both national and international painting competitions, and sold original watercolor paintings to corporate and private collectors. In 2001, I was seriously injured in an auto accident and was confined to a wheelchair for several years. My last surgery was successful and I am now walking! Though still in chronic pain and unable to travel, I look forward to a time when I can get 'out and about' and meet with my customers and fans face-to-face. I share my home in Birmingham with my two cats, Gable and Tallulah...named for Clark Gable and Tallulah Bankhead. My son Brett lives in a beautiful town in New Jersey, Little Falls. Jon, my older son, was killed in a skydiving accident in 2007. I hope to inspire those who think they have waited too long to follow their dreams. I want each of you to realize that it's never too late to start down your personal path to fulfillment. I urge parents to listen to their children and look for early signs of talent...whatever it may be. Encourage and nurture it with attentiveness and provide opportunities for young ones to learn about and explore their personal interests.