I began college courses at Adirondack Community College as a mature returning student and after I received my AA I applied to and was accepted as an Art Major at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. I graduated from Skidmore College with a BS at age 35 and subsequently took a position as an Art Teacher at the Hudson Falls High School. My work with the adolescents in the art room led me to seek a Masters of Social Work. Many of the youngsters had personal problems which they shared with me and that became more interesting to me than the art I was attempting to teach.

After returning to school and graduating from the State University of Albany School of Social Work in 1977, I subsequently went to work for the Rensselaer County Department of Mental Health. My initial interest was in working as an Art Therapist but I eventually found my way from clinical work to administrative duties. After several years of service, I was appointed Commissioner of Mental Health and served as such for ten years. After I retired, I went back to my first love of art.

When I returned to my art I rented a studio and began to paint furiously but with a very different style and method. My professional training and my personal journey gave me a new confidence to experiment and play and enjoy without worrying that I and my art would be critiqued or evaluated. It has been a wonderful experience. I now have my own studio in my home.

Needlepoint designs relate to my paintings inasmuch as the subject generally follows a series of paintings. I generally paint during the day and the needlepoint designs are done evenings. The needlepoint designs are approximately 15x18 inches while the paintings are becoming larger than the original 18 x 24 inch canvases. Most are now 36 x 36 with some plans to become even larger.   A new series, Small Acrylic Paintings, have recently been added.