1. When did you decide to become an artist?

My impetus for becoming an artist has been there since I was a small child. I was exposed throughout my childhood to a rich diversity of cultural experiences. My family and I lived on the Hopi and Navajo Indian reservations of Arizona and New Mexico. This developed in me a deep sense of love for the land and, a strong bond and connectedness between people of diverse cultures and languages. It was a very stimulating environment visually, spiritually and viscerally, perfect for an aspiring artist.

2. Where did you train?

My formative years were rich with informal training experience as I observed and participated in the Sandpainting ceremonies, the Hopi dances, herding / shearing / carding / spinning and weaving the wool from the sheep. Observing the process of Hopi pottery making and Piki breadmaking. Watching and helping in the process of Navajo rug weaving. My formal training began as an apprentice to a well established Fiber artist, this lasted several years. This was followed by completion of my Master of Fine Arts degree at Arizona State University in 1988.

3. How did your training influence you?

The informal training had a very significant influence, on me as it embodied my formative years. However, my formal education definitely broadened my perspective, perceptions and technical skills along with enabling me to begin to articulate both visually and orally about my artwork. I also was able to study with some of the artists whose work impacted me. I found this invaluable.

4. Where do you get your ideas?

My ideas usually come from an intuitive, spiritually symbolic concept or thought process. I am inspired by nature, ceremonial rituals, people in relation to their culture and environment, Primitive petroglyphs, kiva paintings, Olmec sculptured carvings, churches, Italian Renaissance period in history, and the Mayan, & Aztec tribes of Mexico.

5. What artist or artists inspired you?

Historically, Georgia O'Keeffe's life and art have affected me on a variety of levels.. Also, Wassily Kandinsky's book, Concerning The Spiritual In Art, impacted me greatly. Contemporary artists whose work I admire Include Frank Stella, Elizabeth Murray, Jim Dine, Nance O'Banion, Masoud Yasami, Bev Doolittle and Fred Kabotie.

6. Is there symbolic imagery in your work?

Yes, the primary focus of my work is to create my own visual symbolic language that expresses the essence of what I wish to articulate both on a spiritual and visceral level.

7. What helped to shape you?

Learning from my family to celebrate the differences in cultures and to draw from the beauty in people and nature. I also learned that the land was finite and should be treated with respect. These beliefs shape my view of life and find their way into my artwork.

8. How did you decide on this medium?

Mixed Media provides a medium that, enables me to have an eclectic approach to materials. It gives me a variety of possibilities to utilize in creating the visual symbolic images I want to express in my ever evolving creative process.