I grew up in an old farm house near the coast of Maine—an environment perfect for observing and exploring. Fortunately, there was no lack of creativity in my extended family and all forms of artistic expression were encouraged and supported, especially at the little alternative-education school my parents started on their property with some friends. I majored in art at Bates College and spent a semester at the Tyler School of Art in Rome. After the birth of my first daughter (she’s now a Sophomore in college and my second daughter is a senior in high school), I left a graphic design job to become a full-time mom and while it was definitely challenging, I liked using my creative mind for tooth-fairy notes, finding fabulous children’s books, and inventing fun things to do with cardboard boxes. When the girls started going to school, I had a kind of pent-up creativity explosion and started making painting a regular part of my day. I now work in my messy-but-active art studio in the back room of our house. I’m a deep thinker, professional worrier, cloud watcher and an old soul who’s finally growing into the age I’ve sort of always been—48. Even though I live in Massachusetts, I answer the call back to the woods and rocky coast of Maine as often as I can.