I started my atelier training about 10 years ago when I moved to Europe. At first I studied at small private ateliers both in Florence and Rome, Italy, and then took a sabbatical from my career a few years later to devote to full-time study at the Barcelona Atelier and the Barcelona Academy of Art, both of which were still in their infancy.

Studying in Europe has given me a deep appreciation of the brilliant techniques and skills of the Old Masters. I teach the skill of copying, how to see, while using contemporary painting supplies to get similar results. My paintings are informed by the Old Master painting knowledge, and are strongly influenced by impressionists’ focus on painting light. Painting light and working in colour are my ultimate first loves.

When I was a young shy girl my first art teacher noted my aptitude for art and colour. Her encouragement and inspiration has never left me. Although I no longer embody that shy young girl, I still carry the love of art with me. The classes where the teacher maintained an encouraging heart over an exacting technique have had the strongest influence on me as an artist and as a teacher. While teaching technique is important to me, encouragement and inspiration is the focus of my classes.

I consider the following impressionist artists my painting guides and will be offering workshops on their paintings in the future:

Joaquín Sorolla, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Ilya Repin, Berthe Morisot, Cecilia Beaux, Pierre Bonnard, Nicolai Fechin, and many more!

Although I do not share the painting genius of Sorolla I do get to enjoy his work more profoundly by copying his paintings. On a more personal level what I do share with him is his deep love of the ocean. I took my first steps in my mom’s cottage on the ocean. Like Sorolla I do share a deep love for my country, colours, animals, and painting portraits.