I rediscovered my love for art and found my passion for oil painting after being diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and Fibromyalgia in 2005. I had previously practiced as an audiologist for 8 years, and later worked in the pharmaceutical industry. Being chronically ill forced me to abandon my career to stay home and rest. What I didn’t know was that a new opportunity was blooming. During this challenging period of change I was encouraged by my son-in-law, a very talented artist, to "just paint", but shortly thereafter we lost him to suicide. I inherited the contents of his studio and continue to use his equipment and supplies. His influence is present in my work. I am inspired by the complexity of flowers, and oil painting them in a macro format is very meditative and healing for me. I enjoy expressing the soft exterior of the petals, and the safe, complex centers through the use of color and texture. Art is my new focus, and so I "just paint". Although I have had some formal training, I am primarily self taught. My work is shown nationally, and in some international online galleries. Thanks to Teng Tan for belated permission to use the original photo "Rose Close at Heart" www.flickr.com/photos/tengtan/ as a reference for my painting "Rose", which I use as my icon here.