I grew up in Connecticut with my time divided between our family house in Avon and our summer home in Niantic; just down the road from Mystic Seaport! I discovered two of my passions early on in life, horses and art. Horse was the first word I spoke and among the first images I drew!
My mother was a huge influence on my desire to create art. I remember watching my mother paint landscapes and seascapes from my playpen well before I could walk! Art and horses go hand-in-hand together as a solid foundation on which my life began. The horse is the instrument that drives my creative passions and many of the artistic endeavors I pursue.
As a small child I drew horses all the time, anywhere I could; in school notebooks, on bedroom walls, or restaurant paper placemats. I had my own wall of horse drawings devoted to me at the local pizza parlor right behind the cashier! In high school my art teacher tried all he could to encourage me to create a work of art without a horse in it, nearly to no avail. I always managed to slip a horse or references to horses in all of my art projects.
I sat on my first equine when I was two, a stout little Shetland pony named Chief and I still remember him. My family and I were on a weekend trip through the Pennsylvania Poconos and he was at a local attraction giving pony rides. Of course I begged my mother to let me ride him. I became serious about riding when I was around 5 years old. I began riding hunter jumpers at the Farmington Polo Club under the guidance of Hugh Kerrigan and his other trainer, Lisa Sherman.
I fondly remember sneaking around the riding ring so I could catch Sachine Belle's lessons with Hughie. Sachine was his junior pro at the time and I admired her greatly and wanted nothing more than to ride like her. I still wish I could ride like Sachine; she is now quite a respected rider on the A Circuit.
When I was old enough I began working at local stables mucking and doing chores to help pay for my lessons, horses I leased, and shows. When I was at the barn I always carried my sketchbook around, and I was lucky I did. Many people who saw my work began commissioning me to draw their horses and pets. Literally, the barn is where my career in art began.
I chose to attend the Hartford Art School in West Hartford Connecticut , now one of the nine colleges that make up the University of Hartford . I initially wanted to earn a BFA in Fine Art but at that time I found my idea of fine art was drastically different from the school's idea! So, I pursued a degree in Illustration with a focus on Children's Book Illustration and Digital Illustration. I was exposed to the teachings of very prominent and talented illustrators who taught me so much about the field.
Once I obtained my BFA from the Hartford Art School I went on to attend the Maryland Institute College of Art for my Masters. I chose to go directly into graduate studies because I found the struggle of being freelance and living paycheck-to-paycheck too hard. I knew I didn't want to be a “starving artist”! Instead, I chose a graduate study that would suit my needs as an artist and as an art teacher. I chose the highly acclaimed MAT program from MICA.
During my two year stay at MICA I got a taste of real city living, and found out I wasn't a city girl. The call of nature and quiet environments cried out to me each day! Worse yet, was the fact there wasn't a horse in sight and without a car, I rarely got the chance to escape to a barn! I couldn't wait for my two year stay to end so I could move to the country! Though, I may have discovered that the city wasn't my place to be, I did receive an amazing education while there. MICA's program fosters the artist as teacher which I really appreciated. MICA also gave me the foundation I needed to push forth with my art dreams!
After I recieved my MAT I began teaching in Southern Maryland and then in Loudoun County Virginia . I had to start somewhere and teaching has been an amazingly rewarding experience. However, deep in my heart the call to be an artist grows daily. Currently my goal is to continue marketing my art and illustration and work towards becoming the full time artist I have always dreamed of. Teaching gives me the time I need to devote to my art and for that I am thankful. I can also see myself teaching at the college level one day, where it is my goal to teach students about the “business and marketing” side of art and illustration. That is the side that is only touched on lightly in today's art schools and sadly it is the most important aspect of starting an art career!
Currently I reside on a little country farm nestled in the Catoctin Mountains , a part of the easternmost mountain ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains . I have two wonderful thoroughbred ex-racehorses and a plethora of other animals. It is here that I find the calm peaceful serenity I have always dreamed of. Wildlife abounds and both the sunrise and sunset are truly breathtaking! There are plenty of horses around and many local neighbors ride their mounts past my house each day! The nature I find around my house is amazing and I always find my creativity renewed after a quiet hike or a peaceful ride!
