At the Rhode Island School of Design I majored in painting, and as a mature woman, I received my BA and MFA-Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. I also received a Certificate of Horticulture from Longwood Gardens in Chadds Ford Pennsylvania.

I come from a family of painters and was exposed from birth to the creative world. At age three I was able to draw a bird's eye perspective of a chair. By age ten, I wanted to be an architect, due to the close life long bond I had with my uncle John M Johansen. As a very young child, I created plans, elevations sections and aerial views of my dream horse farms and my ideal house.

As a young mother who had to stay home with my children I was commissioned to illustrate large aerial perspectives of personal properties, often including the children, pets, cars and other personal features. During this time, I also travelled widely, where my visionary knowledge expanded exponentially.

These disciplines define who I am as a painter and an architect. Viewing the world from above, understanding spaces for people to inhabit, being able to design their dreams, my love for the landscape and the creative forces which made them, and painting.