After raising two children and building a career, I chose to refocus my life on the creative pursuits that have always mattered most to me: art and music. In 2014, I began painting under the guidance of Carol Douglas, whose teaching grounded me in the fundamentals of painting and introduced me to plein air work, deepening my connection to painting directly from life and responding to light, atmosphere, and place. This is also where I met Victoria Brzustowicz. We began painting outdoors together, and soon others were asking to join us – thus was Greater Rochester Plein Air Painters created.

Before working in paint, my primary artistic practice was creating Pysanky, traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs, Which I learned from my grandmother. This meticulous form—rooted in pattern, symbolism, and careful craftsmanship—continues to influence my sensitivity to color, layering, and deliberate mark-making. Music remains an equally important creative force in my life; I sing with the Rochester Oratorio Society and the Eastman–Rochester Chorus. I live in Fairport, NY with my cat, where I continue to engage with the natural world through hiking and camping.

Cofounder and member of Greater Rochester Plein Air Painters

Member: Pastel Society of Western New York