My dual career as a practicing artist and an Art educator has been an advantage since teaching provided me many opportunities to observe, reflect and record and I returned to the studio filled with ideas for creating. Having been an Art Education major at Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis) graduating with the BS in 1966, I taught school, grades K-12 for several years before becoming a student again at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn New York. I received the Master of Fine Arts Degree in 1983 after which I combined teaching and practicing art for a total of 30 years. Retirement has been a time to enjoy the freedom of creating without distraction though I have not ceased to immerse myself in life, being inspired by the world around me. Because life is multifaceted, my body of work deals with a variety of subjects. I find my vision is broad enough to include things observed, things felt and things believed and do not see the zones between social realities, spiritual truths and surrounding beauty as opposing forces but all coming together to express my point of view.