I'm an artist, illustrator, writer, crafter, maker, from Rochester, New York. I grew up on Lake Ontario, in the town of Irondequoit. The name is of Iroquois origin and means "Where the land meets the water". My father taught me to draw when I was in the 1st grade. Right away I started sketching my family and our pets. Very early Saturday mornings, I would sneak into my sister's room and draw her asleep because she wouldn't move. Growing up, she was my best model. My parent's love of books, reading and their sound of language brushed off on me quickly. We had a library with of all kinds of books. I studied the pictures for hours and tried to read them. My first favorite was My Friend Flicka by Marine O’Hara. I started riding at the age of six, and at 21, started working on horse farms. More recently, I was a groom and a side walker at the EquiCenter, a therapeutic riding and horsemanship center in Mendon, NY. They have a Veterans and Mustang program there which is very successful. Story ideas are abundant and come to me from mediation, walking, writing, and sometimes dreams. I have a collection of them. I've also attended numerous Highlight Foundation workshops and SCBWI conferences. I'm a former teaching artist at the Creative Workshop, Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY, and a former substitute teacher of 8 years. I taught grades K-12th in all subjects. I believe in Education and life-time learning. Education has enriched my life in many ways. Besides making new friends, I've learnt to work together with others as a team. M. A. Masters in Studio Art at Marywood University, Scranton, PA. B. F. A. Bachelor of Fine Arts- Printmaking-Intaglio, at Nova Scotia Collage of Art and Design, Halifax, Canada Southend on-sea College of Art, Essex, England. One year Intro to Art, right after High School. New York State Certification in Art Education preK-12.