I remember drawing as soon as I could hold a crayon and was fortunate that my family encouraged my love of the arts. Much later, while studying in Florence, Italy, I had the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of a part of my heritage and a unique link to the art world. Bernardino Lanino (1512-1582), a successful Renaissance painter from Vercelli, Italy, is an ancestor. His works from so long ago still have a powerful impact on viewers. In my work, I use Renaissance techniques such as chiaroscuro (lights and darks), sfumato (blurring edges) impasto (thickly applied paint) pentimento (covering layers) sprezzatura (effortlessness) and nonfinito (unfinished). In addition to my fine art paintings, I also illustrated posters for the theater, magazine covers, picture books and book jackets.

Some of my works have representational and figurative elements and other works, like the Greek Cross, are abstract yet contain meditative and transcendent tones through light, color and design. Color fascinates me. I work with a vibrant palette creating thin, painterly layered glazes as well as impasto effects. The natural beauty of the west coast influences my palette. Themes of Faith, Nature and Art History find their way into my work, the goal of which is to uplift and bring positivity to the viewer.