I learned I loved to draw and paint in Nursing School from my roommate Robbie who was a self-taught artist. She is the one, who encouraged me to give drawing a try. To my surprise, I found out I could draw and really enjoyed it, and so began a lifelong, pursuit of learning to draw and paint, whenever I had extra time. I've lived in Maryland most of my life, enjoying being close to the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore. I graduated from the University of Maryland, University College in 1997, with a B.A. in Studio Art.

During 2012-14, I attended Myron Barnstone's art school, in Coplay, PA, where I learned how to create compositions using Dynamic Symmetry and how to use the Fletcher Color Wheel, a split-complementary color system. These classes, were a significant turning point in my life-long journey to learn to draw and paint.

I have used Dynamic Symmetry design principles, to help create pleasing compositions for my later artworks. I have found it intriguing that the proportions used in Dynamic Symmetry are found throughout Nature.*  For me, this speaks of God's Intelligent Design in Creation.  Some of my favorite artists from the past, are known to have used Dynamic Symmetry in creating their masterworks, such as; Rembrandt, Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Mary Cassatte, Georges Rouault, Sanford Gifford and Winslow Homer.** In studying these painters, I have studied their masterworks and created some copies of my favorites. 

In 2015, we moved to Northern Virginia from Maryland. There, I taught drawing, acrylic and watercolor painting classes at Michaels's and then at the Manassas Park Community Center. My students were from ages 7-70+. I found, I really enjoyed teaching art to my students. Unfortunately, with Covid, in-person art classes were discontinued in 2020. 

My future plan is to teach drawing and painting again in 2026, this time online. I would like to pass on to other artists, young and old, all the tips and techniques for drawing and painting, I have learned over a lifetime of study and practice. 

On Daily Paintworks, I have an online art gallery, to display my original paintings,  copies of historical paintings, prints of my own original paintings, and greeting cards featuring images from my originals. My husband Perry is a poet, and has written some lovely Christmas poems and songs that have inspired some of my Christmas paintings.  

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy viewing my online art gallery.  

* https://aapor.files.wordpress.com   The Elements Dynamic Symmetry

**Kitschmeister.com/post/the-key-to-great-composition-dynamic-symmetry-explained