Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

My favorite type of art is collage and I enjoy layering works built from my own drawings, paintings, photos, and prints made over the past 40 years as an artist and art educator. By reworking these pieces into new compositions, I document the evolving story of my life, what I call “Layers of Life.” I create because I intuitively have to, I’m driven by an inner need to make, reflect, and transform my experiences into visual narratives that continue to grow and shift over time.

Where do you find inspiration?

Life!! My inspiration comes from life: childhood, school, art classes, marriage, children, the loss of a child, and navigating grief. Art, and my students, helped save me. I’m inspired by the beauty and joy in each day and choose to celebrate it, diving into the marks that define who we are, where we’ve been, and why our stories matter. Through layered collage, I transform past works into new narratives, honoring resilience, memory, and the ever-evolving journey of a life shaped by creativity.

What would you do with $25,000?

With $25,000, I would travel to Switzerland, where my family’s story began, connecting my roots with the memory of my son, Croy. Immersed in this landscape, I would create a new collection of layered, collaged works that honor both heritage and loss, exploring love, grief, and healing. This journey would shape deeply personal visual narratives. I would donate the remaining funds to the National Urea Cycle Disorders Foundation (NUCDF) in Croy’s memory, supporting research and families in need.