I am originally from Northeast Ohio. I grew up loving the outdoors and nature by spending summer vacations camping with family. We and our neighbors in the country always had dogs and other animals. As a child I drew animals.I brought this love with me to Texas where I began painting as a way to deal with the loss of my beloved father, who passed away in 2010.  I started painting with watercolor, then experimented with acrylic and oils. Later, I discovered pastel painting and am absolutely enthralled with the process of creating realism with them!