"Art is a driving force in my life. A seventh-generation Florida native, I began a love affair with art as far back as I can remember. I always chose art as electives, but did not consider painting seriously until I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. As I walked around and saw Calder's "Five Black Dots" I knew I could do this too. I painted and sculpted in college and continued to worked in furniture and specialty custom painting many years and now implement revolutionary textures into my art. My paintings become more three-dimensional. There are many layers to the work, yet the pieces appear simple. My goal is for the art to be interactive and stimulating, yet calming. Painting is therapy for my spirit. In the scared space of creating, I find a connection to the deeper meanings in life. Painting and sculpting is a love and need for me. I live to challenge myself with the places my art takes me."