I grew up north of Chicago in an area where the emphasis was on culture as well as education. Many of my friends' parents were from Europe, as were mine--my father from Vienna and my mother from Bavaria. My grandfather was a costume designer for the Vienna opera, and my three sisters were talented in drama, drawing, sewing, and music.

I served as a liaison between my grammar school and the Chicago Art Institute, choosing an art work for the school to study each month. Studying art, painting, and design goes as far back as my memory can reach, and continues as I work with other artists and take advantage of any learning opportunities.

Today, I am inspired by nature and especially landscapes, studies of interiors, Mexican themes, and floral studies in watercolor. I love pure color, and use whimsy whenever possible.

I have worked extensively in pastel and oil. I particularly enjoy creating depth with many layers of oil on linen canvas, then finishing the process with a light varnish to bring out color and depth. I use the best possible materials and quality pigments, and I feel that my finished pieces are of the best quality.

I also work in watercolor. It is a medium that I taught myself of necessity. In 1990, my husband won the honor of a Nobel Prize in Economics, thus we have traveled extensively and continue to do so. Watercolor has allowed me to paint while away from home. I now find that working back and forth from oil to watercolor improves the quality of each medium.