I grew up on Lincoln Ave. in St. Paul and have been a resident of the Longfellow neighborhood in Mpls. for 30 years. I took up watercolor painting at a young age and have been doing it for over 40 years now. I attended the University of Minnesota, Morris and began doing acrylic painting, charcoal drawing, black and white photography and mixed media work around that time. More recently I have taken watercolor classes at the Grand Marais Art Colony and the White Bear Center for the Arts.

My artwork has been a thread throughout my life and has helped me manage my mental illness. It gives me things like meaning and purpose and it allows me to communicate my feelings to others in a way that goes beyond words. I do most of my work at the Avivo Artworks studio in N.E. Minneapolis. I work alongside other folks recovering from mental illnesses and this keeps me connected and supported.