I grew up in Storm Lake, Iowa. A lot of my inspiration comes from my childhood memories of the lake where we lived. I remember my brother and I racing our bikes off the dock into the sparkling waters, playing marbles and climbing apple trees. We shared our free time with the local turtles, birds and butterflies.

In second grade, we moved to Texas. We’ve lived in Victoria, near the pastel beaches of Padre Island in Corpus Christi, along the clay banks of the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass and in the dusty oil town of Odessa. I found inspiration in all of these unique places.

For as long as I remember, I have always doodled and drawn pictures. My mother encouraged me and enrolled me in art classes as we moved from town to town. After high school, I attended the Art Institute of Houston majoring in Advertising Design and graduated in 1983.

The exciting world of advertising kept me busy as an art director for almost twenty years. Traveling, working and living in cities like Los Angeles, Houston and New York City were great experiences for me in my twenties and thirties. By 2000, after getting married and having my first child, I longed to spend more time with my new family.

I compiled an illustration portfolio and within a year had a two book deal from Grosset&Dunlap. Soon, clients such as Mattel and American Girl were calling, in response to the cheerful girls and images I illustrated. Even Madonna hired me to illustrate her book, “The English Roses Too Good To Be True”. Over the years, I have illustrated more than a dozen books, as well as greeting cards, packaging, and games.

Currently, I live in the wild, wild west with my amazing two children, Jack and Hannah, a vivacious cat and a one-eyed cocker spaniel. Because I can send my work out electronically, I am lucky to be able to live just about anywhere. In a small town, I can breathe and enjoy the vast blue sky.

I feel blessed I’m able to balance my time between my family and what I love: creating art.