Our everyday surroundings are filled with wonder and inspiration. Most of us miss the beauty, the agony, the emotions, the stillness, and the silent stories that are hidden around us. I usually begin a painting with no real agenda. Forms and colors speak to me and lead me to the next. Believing in serendipity, I welcome and accentuate the unexpected. Art has helped me to value myself in all areas of my life. As I began to re-experience and accept my emotions and struggles, I stopped trying to please people with my painting and began expressing my true self. That is what painting is all about for me, connecting with my inner self at a subconscious level, and bringing it to the canvas, without my thinking mind getting in the way.