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 awarded 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 (thank you Jackie Bernardi!). 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!

I’ve entered two works in two events and been recognized each time. It has become much 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 an excited, joyful & grateful confidence now.

I can’t wait to share more.