She Saved Small Things in Her Pockets Painting

In the early 1980’s I received a Crayola Caddie—a wonderful, three-tiered art supply organizer. There were probably too many hours spent arranging the crayons and markers in rainbow order, but the thrill of all those shades, hues, and possibilities was something a budding artist could fully appreciate. Fortunately, there was no lack of creativity in my extended family and all forms of artistic expression were encouraged and supported. My two younger brothers and I grew up in an old farm house at the end of a dirt road in rural Maine where the constantly changing weather and raw landscape were perfect for observing and exploring. I majored in art at Bates College and spent a semester at the Tyler School of Art in Rome. After the birth of our first daughter, I left a graphic design job to become a full-time mom but made painting a priority ten years later. I now have a messy-but-active (the organized Crayola Caddie days are over) art studio in the back room of my house in Massachusetts. My understanding husband, two brilliant teen girls, and wild tuxedo cats do their best to “leave Mom alone in her studio or else she will be grumpy.”