Born in the Pacific Northwest, I developed an early affinity for beaches, woods, and books—the first I recall reading was The Color Kittens. Though reprimanded for “doodling” in grade school, by 1966 at the University of Washington, three drawing classes at last encouraged my sketches. After college, as a young mother, my arms and hands were full, yet I found a few moments to draw my four children. It made me so happy to see I could inscribe the strength of my love. Studying first French and attending La Sorbonne, then later, Japanese and teaching in Yashiro, my world widened culturally. Renoir and Morisot's Impressionistic scenes were two early favorites. After discovering Chihiro Iwasaki’s picture books, I began my own watercolor impressions of children playing. Since then, my palette has expanded with sumi-e, acrylic gouache, collage, and ( under Michael Maczuga) oil painting.