I recently "retired" (after the near collapse of the construction industry) from 10 years of being self-employed painting murals in Seattle My husband of 32 years, Ron, and I moved to Culver City this last year and are having a great time exploring the area. Instead of rain, moss and mushrooms we have sunshine, cacti and palm trees. I am free for the first time in my life from the necessity of having to make a living and am re-evaluating my relationship to art. I really love the challenge of sketching. Trying to pull it all together under a time restriction is an such an invigorating challenge. I particularly enjoy portrait sketches and plain air painting in oil. I studied at Gage Academy for two years in Seattle and enjoy art history.