I think I was born an artist as I loved to sketch. Flax Art Store with all the markers, pencils, and paints was my paradise. But my right brain told me I could not make money being an artist. I dabbled with it in high school, creating collages for the first time. I abandoned creating artwork of my own until my 30s where I picked it up again as an amateur metalsmith. I loved designing more than fabrication. Jewelry making involves a lot of precision. My day job required enough attention to detail that I soon found the exactness of metalsmithing tedious and frustrating.

In my 40s, I took an afternoon collage class on a lark and found my medium for creative expression. I created two collages in two hours (the first two collages in my slideshow) and felt the creativity pouring out of me when the other participants were still struggling with their blank canvas boards.

I love the absolute freedom of collage to do what I want. Mistakes often turn into the best features--how freeing is that? 

Much of my art tries to make a statement. There's a lot of injustice in this world--past and present. My artwork often seeks to highlight those injustices as a means to commemorate those who have suffered at the hands of others or Mother Nature. The past cannot be undone but with increased awareness, we can avoid repeating the past. 

Through my artwork and the research needed to create it, I hope to continue to grow my own humanity.