They say that where you were born says a lot about who you are. As it happens, I hail from Asheville, NC located in the Smoky Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s true that my love for art and for being outdoors as well as my faith in God began in the (then) small, quiet town of Asheville. I still love hiking and bicycling along the Blue Ridge Parkway, running in the early mornings down old farm tracts; visiting the home places of Thomas Wolfe and George Vanderbilt II (the Biltmore House), and admiring the awe-inspiring arts and crafts Asheville artisans have produced over the years.

I began sketching and drawing as a child in Asheville under the guiding influence of my parents. In high school, and thanks to a gifted and noble art teacher, I won a full scholarship to the School of Visual Arts in New York City. There I studied painting, photography and graphic design. I also studied abroad and worked in Paris, France for a year through an international exchange program. Not bad for a natural born hillbilly, right??

I’ve been painting full-time since 2008, and I make it a practice to begin my paintings on-location in the style and tradition of the Impressionists. The ‘Monet in Normandy’ exhibit at the NC Museum of Art (2007) has had a continuous impact on my vision and fascination with oil painting. In addition, Kyle Highsmith, a well-known NC painter, has been a wonderful friend and mentor.

When I’m not out chasing my next painting, I love spending time with my husband, Sam, our three talented children, and five adorable grandchildren.

Photo: the Appalachian Trail traverses Max Patch Mountain near Asheville, NC