Throughout most of my life, I have been involved in artistic pursuits of one form or another. Childhood interests included nature-coloring books, drawing and learning about flowers. During my teen years, I began painting, learning about photography and pressing flowers. My love of music emerged as well and I learned to play the piano, self taught the harmonica with clogging dolls and later learned to play the banjo. In my adulthood, I have been found as a much sought after pressed flower artist. I believe that I have a strong love and respect for the natural environment. I raise all of my own flowers and plants and use as many recycled products in my work as possible. My full-time career in this area has spanned well over sixteen years. The numerous awards I have received from the artistic community add to the knowledge that a proper path has been chosen for my artistic expression. I believe that I have a keen eye for composition using various plant material and stylish flow of colors. I enjoy recreating historic pieces of work similar to museum specimens that have been kept for hundreds of years. My parents, four cats and I reside in Norton, OH, where I produce my artwork. Here, perennial and annual flowerbeds, a large vegetable garden and woods surround us.