From my European heritage, to being raised in East Africa, I have been blessed with an amazing assortment of influences.  These range from the arid, barren deserts of Ethiopia, to the lush, green hills of Uganda and stretch to the bustling extremes of Nairobi, Kenya.  I was awed by the geometric patterns and shapes in Coptic crosses from Ethiopia and surrounded by the vivid colors of“Maridadi” fabrics in East Africa.  The detailed beadwork in jewelry made by the Masaai culture continues to fascinate me.  Everything around me seemed to always be in bloom; the sweet scent of the frangipani flower that filled the air, or the purple bloom of the jacaranda tree that blanketed the landscape.  Despite life’s  shadows or maybe because of them, I focus on the joy and happiness around me and it is reflected in the bright colors and patterns I choose for my paintings.