I am the only child of a mother who was an only child and I have a daughter who was is an only child....I guess you can say I know what it means to be doted upon and also express the love I have been privileged to find...So as a child I was allowed, encouraged even, to explore nature and expand my talents in all areas. My fondest gift was fine art and it claimed me at a very early age...My first serious set of oil paints I got at 16 and I claimed the task of a painter with all the dreams of fame as a Rembrandt...But life would have a diversion in store.. So after graduating from Southern Illinois University and teaching art to High Schoolers for 3 yrs I went back to the university to further my education getting a M.A. and taught primary children for better than 30yrs..It was after retirement that I have had the time and resources to pursue my childhood dreams...I am finally a painter...And I am very happy to paint these subjects..Little did I know my past would inform my future and prepare me to be a visual historian with the depth and breadth so evident in these paintings..My hope is that this body of work titled Southern Roots are seen by many here and worldwide...Blessings