Born and raised in the State of Hawai’i, on the windward side of the Island of O’ahu, I spent most of my youth outdoors, climbing trees, mud sliding, horseback riding, swimming and body surfing. I also spent many hours drawing people, mountains, trees, houses, horses and more horses. I have always been enamored by nature in all its forms and mesmerized by the vivid colors and wild beauty of the Hawaiian Islands. I never really fully appreciated how blessed I was to grow up in here in this very special place until I left and returned after a seven-year absence.
In 1977, I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Certification for Elementary Education from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.
I love painting outdoors, or “en plein air”. It offers an intimate and spiritual connection with nature and the art of observing. This practice is continually teaching me to slow down, think quickly, paint loosely, tune in and tune out to my surroundings and most of all simplify. I am interested in light and dark, color relationships, movement, simplifying shapes, capturing light effects, creating the essence of a location, or its people in their environment.
