June 2024

2nd Place

I just finished this piece - the original “Americana Pride” - and I hated it. Absolutely hated it. It wasn’t supposed to look like a quilt! It was supposed to be an explosion of color using purchased and painted papers - and fabrics. I had worked for a while on the piece and I was so disappointed. Then my neighbor popped in and said “what if you turn it like this?” (I designed it to display vertically, she flipped it horizontally) and I said - “oooooooh, yes, I kinda like that”. I sent a picture to my friend Collette who promptly offered to buy it. I didn’t even know how to sell it. Then I opened my email and there was an invitation to enter the Spring Office Art Competition of Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (AD69). I had never received such an invitation, ever, in my life and thought “how weird is this?”.

So I entered.

I received an email congratulating me for being selected as a finalist. I was shocked. I later found out that the office had over 100 submissions and chose 10. I was flabbergasted. I forced my entire family to attend the reception - and was rewarded a 2nd place. I was speechless.

And if you know me, you know that is a rare event.

But how validating! Here was a piece I worked hard on, clearly the most sophisticated piece I had created in my 6-7 months of experimentation, and people liked it! I realized, at that point, that I could do this.

And I also realized that, just because it wasn’t what I originally intended, it could still be cool.

July 2025

OC Fair Theme Award

Fine Arts / Mixed Media

I started working with different techniques in early 2025, painting papers and “working wet” so that the papers went translucent when layered. This piece, Sailing Towards Serenity, was the first piece I finished that was done entirely in this format - and wow - it was a bear! I actually had to sand this down and start over again but once I got that ocean in place, I was overjoyed at the result. I submitted this along with 5 other pieces to the OC Fair and this was the only one they accepted. So I wasn’t hoping for any other recognition, just happy to be accepted.

Imagine my surprise when it won a ribbon!

So far, I’ve entered two works in two events and been recognized each time. It has become more than what brings me joy and morphed into what brings others joy. I don’t start each piece with the thought of winning accolades, but there is confident excitement now.

I can’t wait to share more.