Most of my education and career have been spent in business. After an early retirement, I wanted to explore the artist within and develop and nurture my creative side. I have dabbled in ceramics and collage work periodically throughout my life but have never pursued anything seriously. I have been enamored with art ever since I went to my first art museum. I thought it nothing short of a miracle that people could create such extraordinary beauty. I never thought of myself as artistic until I found Artella last year. Artella opened up a door into a brand new world for me. I began to think that anything is possible. I love the way the folks in Artellaland are so supportive and encouraging to each other and embrace even newcomers. I just love belonging to this community. I find both the Musepaper and all the other Artella Artists inspirational. I adore rubber stamps and am beginning to acquire quite a collection. I have also been dabbling in card making and scrap booking. Artistically, I would like to explore more in the way of collage art, art journaling, and photography. I love color, every color and all colors. In fact, I can never really decide which color is my favorite. One thing I really need to learn, though, is to color outside of the lines. After all, I don’t think art is supposed to be so neat and perfect. Rather it should evoke emotions or provoke thoughtfulness or conversation or perhaps be an external reflection of the artist. Certainly, if my art were neat, precise, and perfect, it would be somewhat dishonest since I am none of these either on the inside or the outside. I have a deep rooted passion for all animals, the environment and mother nature and all her natural resources and wonders. I have also done some sailing, a lot of salt water fishing, bird watching, skiing, and hiking. I think it must be that need to be in and around Mother Nature. I am currently living in New Jersey and I love to garden. Although I live in a townhouse, I tend a small flower garden in my front yard and I grow flowers and vegetables (tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and zucchini) in pots on my back patio.