This latest body of work originated in the Northwoods of Wisconsin in 2018. I traveled up to Dillman’s  Bay Resort with my husband and daughter for  a Bob Burridge aquamedia workshop. Three days in we jumped from acrylics (not my usual paint of choice) to mixed media collage. I panicked. The woman next to me shared some papers and I went back to our cabin…started tearing up some newspaper and maps and grabbed some aluminum foil. I ran into my husband on the way back to class and told him I felt unprepared—I didn’t bring collage materials! He mentioned that my bag of feathers (I collect for my ceramic work) was in the truck…I thought “genius” and a series was born.  I really got into it. That week changed my path entirely. I started painting with acrylics again. I started working with mixed media. I’m experimenting with new ways of presenting my watercolors—mounted without frames. I came home and set up a new work area in my office so I can easily transition from “work to work”. Then series morphed from Northwoods into Starved Rock.  All of my work revolves around and is based on nature. This series focuses on two specific places that are meaningful to me. My retreat in the Northwoods and the magical place I grew up near. Starved Rock was always a “special event” whether with family or friends growing up or now—visiting it—it’s stirring, in a good way.