I hope you will enjoy perusing my website. Explore and have fun, but please remember my work is copyrighted and not allowed for use without my permission.

All my life I've loved to draw!! I won my first art contest in 2nd grade. Drew a terrific seal at the circus. My Dad loved art too. He encouraged me and taught me how to draw a face. After that, I couldn't stop! I drew portraits all the time. In school, I sketched teachers, friends, animals or whatever. I studied how one's eye winks or different expression a mouth can make. My school notebooks were crammed with sketches!

While in high school, I receieved a scholarship to Choinards Art Institute in Los Angeles, CA. I attended for a year. These were the “hippie” years. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I chose getting married and having a family.

I'm afraid there wasn't a lot of time to spend on art while I raised four kids. I'll have to say though, they are my best creations! Motherhood has enlightened my understanding. Even though I didn't get the opportunity to place a paintbrush in my hand, I developed a depth that comes from experiencing children and myself grow.

I did get a chance to tip my toe in the water of illustration at this time when my Mom wrote a story called SANTA'S CHRISTMAS TREE. I have a very creative family! My Mom is a pianist and composer. My Grandfather played fiddle and led a band. My Uncle Stan played drumes.

Our family decided to self publish SCT. I was in charge of the illustrations. My Mom wrote songs to be included in the book. And Dad, published it through his printing company. Although self publishing is not easy, SCT was quite successful! 7-Up Bottling (west coast division), chose our book to be their float in the Hollywood Santa Claus Lane Parade. They also commissioned me to create a small coloring book version to go into their 12-packs. It was quite exciting!

Now my children are grown. I'm a grandmother of two! Rachel and Curtis are the best. You can see Rachel in my picturebook BEING FRIENDS written by Karen Beaumont and published by Dial. She is the girl with the glasses. Soon, it will be Curtis's turn.

I've been extreemly fortunate to have illustrated 32 books in the four years. I have books both in mass market and with trade. Some books are for the education market, some are in the religious market. I have picture books and early readers. I've had some awards too! I received the Excellence in Media Silver Angel award this year for my book picturebook MUD PIE ANNIE, written by Sue Buchannan and Dana Schafer. I've been chosen as “Editor's Choice” in Art Gallery Magazine and profiled in Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market and in Artists & Graphics Designer's Market. My art has been displayed in Publisher's Weekly.

But all that doesn't matter unless my readers enjoy my work. So take some time and see what you think. If you have time, you can email me and let me know.

If you are an Editor or Art Director and are interested in my illustrations, I have two wonderful agents you can choose from. Hannah Robinson from Hannah Represents at hannahrepresents@yahoo.com covers mostly the west coast, while Ronnie Ann Herman with Herman Agency Inc. at HermanAgencyInc.com handles the east coast. If you have worked with me directly before, you can still do that using my email at joybug2@aol.com

If you are interested in purchasing an original painting. I am currently exhibited at Every Picture Tells a Story. The website is http://www.everypicture.com. I also sell prints of my work.

I do give school and adult visits. Soon I will have a webpage with all the particulars. In the meantime, you can email me for information.