About

Always interested in plants, science and art, when I found botanical painting I knew this was what I wanted to do. Studying Botany and Plant Pathology allowed me to learn about this fascinating world and the idea of illustrating plants in all their beauty, curiousness and wonderful details.

While waiting for a plane at Heathrow Airport I read an article in The London Times about the renewed popularity of Botanical Illustration and of Anne Marie Evans who was teaching workshops from her home in Central England. (Click here to see this inspiring article.) After taking several workshops and teaching an invited lecture at the Chelsea Physic Garden it was clear I needed to know more. I then went on to attend the English Gardening School course and subsequently received a diploma in 2005. With this and my previous education of studying biology and botany degrees at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry in New York and botany and plant pathology at Oregon State University, from which I received degrees in 1979(BS), 1980(MS) and 1986(Ph.D.) I approach plants with a scientific and observant perspective.

In 2006 I moved back to the high desert of Central Oregon and have continued to paint and now teach botanical illustration workshops at home, at invited locations and at the local Community College. My work has been shown in several local exhibitions and has been published.

Being a member of the ASBA American Society of Botanical Artists has allowed me to learn from other artists including Jean Emmons, Helen Allen, Hillary Parker, Marilyn Garber, Lee McCaffree and John Pastoriza-Piñol among many others.

I teach a technique derived from the multi-step method introduced to me by Anne Marie Evans which allows beginners to follow step-by-step and realize results.

“Botanical Illustration and Painting is a meditation that if you are fortunate will result in plant portrait that captures the magic of the subject.”