I grew up near Grand Avenue in St. Paul and have lived in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis for the last 30 years. I attended Cretin H. S. in St. Paul and graduated from the Univ. of Minn. in Morris. I work in many different mediums but my first love was watercolor painting which I began to study at about age 15. I became involved with Avivo ArtWorks in 2011 and do most of my work in our shared studio space. I find support in working alongside other artists who are recovering from Mental Illness. Expressing my emotions and my creativity through art has been a vital part of my recovery. It helps me to connect with others in a way that goes beyond words.