It all started with a magical class in Portland. . . .

Several years ago I attempted to get through Julia Cameron’s book, “the Artist’s Way” on my own, but abandoned my efforts about half way through the program. I decided to try again and discovered an Artist’s Way Creative Cluster being offered in Portland under the tutelage of Gretchin Lair at Scarlet Star Studios. I signed up in the fall of 2005 and with determination and delight, completed her 13-week course. Out of it sprang both my desire and my mantra to BE BOLD and to further enhance my creativity. As result of my newfound boldness, three things happened: Alley Art was born, I began offering Artist’s Way Creative Clusters in Salem, and I gave myself permission to call myself an artist!

I love to teach, encourage others, and lead groups related to creativity and art-making. I’m also a workshop junkie, devouring as many classes as possible related to art journaling, painting, and collage. My creative resume illustrates the variety of classes and workshops that I have both taken and led.

I am also a:

• A counselor at Serenity Lane, doing Family Group, on-call assessments, and presenting specialized lectures on wellness and communication.
• Member of the Court Street Writers, an eclectic group of writers who meet monthly to write and cheer each other on.
• Member of a book group with no name, but made up of smart, intelligent, creative women who love to read and discuss what they’ve read.
• Full-time wife, married for 35 years to the most supportive husband a recovering creative could want (thanks, Howard!).
• Mother to three grown children, two sons-in-law, two granddogs, and a passel of grandbabies and toddlers.
• Graduate of Western Oregon University with a BS in History.
• Graduate of the post-baccalaureate Addiction Counselor certification program at Chemeketa Community College.
• Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC II and NCAC I).

If you would like to know more about me and my day-to-day activities, please visit my blog at: www.alleyartstudio.blogspot.com.

Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace, and power in it.

Goethe