I'm on the right with my sister on the left. Photo by Pasquale Dante Avallone

Lake George, Falling Leaves Picture Book Workshop

Staying at Boyds Mill Cabin

Had such a great time at a Highlight's workshop.

A pen and ink wash of my sister while she slept.

       I'm an artist, illustrator, poet and crafter from Rochester, New York. I grew up in the town of Irondequoit near Lake Ontario.  ​My father taught me to draw when I was little. 
I started sketching my family and our pets.  Early Saturday mornings I would draw my sister while she was still sleeping. That way she wouldn't move. Growing up, she was my best model. Later I studied and taught drawing from hired models.
​      I acquired my parent's love of books and reading.  My first favorite was an old book my parents had called My Friend Flicka by M. O’Hara. 
​ I started riding at six and at twenty-one began working on horse farms. More recently, I became a groom and a side walker at the EquiCenter, a therapeutic riding and horsemanship center in Mendon, NY.  I love horses and animals.  You'll find many in my portfolios.
  When not out walking, at the dog park, or gardening, I'm working on five picture books, and three graphic novels, always illustrating every day.
​EDUCATION
​M. A. Masters- Studio Art, Marywood University, Scranton, PA.
B. F. A. Bachelor of Fine Arts- Printmaking-Intaglio, Nova Scotia Collage of Art and Design, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Southend on-sea College of Art, Essex, England. One year Intro to Art, after High School.
New York State Certification in Art Education preK-12. 
I was a substitute art teacher, subbing all subjects.  I taught all ages and art medium at The University of Rochester's Memorial Art Gallery.

​SCBWI, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Member.

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Lake George, where I stayed for a picture book conference.

At a SCBWI conference with RACWI Linda Sue and Sharon and myself far left.

My studio companion, AKC, Pippin Polka Dot.

My studio companion, Madeleine.

Sometimes I sew plushies of the characters that are in my stories.

At the EquiCenter, Mendon, NY

I'm a published poet and also painted the cover of this chap book.

A coloring book that I illustrated