I was born this way!

I was born more than 60% blind. One Christmas, my mother said, “Look at that beautiful tree!” I replied, “What tree?” Shortly after, at age five, I was diagnosed and given tiny, thick glasses. Suddenly, I saw the light—and ever since, I’ve experienced the world as one vast, sometimes fuzzy composition.

I can paint just two inches from my work without glasses. Contacts don’t allow me to paint or read, so I’ve learned to live comfortably within my limitations. Recently, I began painting larger oil works on canvas, which has been a true challenge.

I mentally compose almost everything I see as a painting. Because of my limited sight, my senses of smell and hearing developed to an almost heightened level. At times, this gift can be overwhelming, but it’s not something I can—or usually want to—control. The minutiae of our planet is filled with beauty if you simply stop and look.

My creativity is sparked by the golden low light of dawn and dusk, and my interests are highly diverse. I often incorporate the form of a beautiful woman into the natural world. Much of my recent work is deeply personal and symbolic, frequently reflecting the puritanical shifts I observe in society. Many of these changes, I believe, are highly controversial.

In 1972, my father sent photographs of my work to fashion designer Anne Klein, who hired me as her apprentice. We met monthly as she critiqued my work, and I stayed in her Manhattan home. It was a glorious experience and could have been life-changing, but tragically, she passed away just two weeks before I was to move in permanently.

As many women born in the 1950s were expected to do, I went on to marry and raise my children. Now, at last, it is my time.

After forty years of hard work while putting myself through The Art Institute of Philadelphia, my life has evolved into its true purpose. I am finally discovering my own artistic voice, which often involves controversial subject matter. Some of my work is created by commission and is rarely seen beyond my clients.

Thanks to the support of my husband, I spend countless joyful hours in my studio. My work can be seen at various galleries throughout the tri-state area.