About Me

I have been in the fields of art and decorating my entire adult life (and that's a long time!).  I was an art major at Oklahoma State University, and studied decoupage in Boston with the late Hiram Manning, and also with Dorothy Harrower in Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania. In addition, I studied the art of decorative finishes at the Inchbald School of Design in London, England.  Last, but certainly not least, I studied Renaissance painting with Jean Pierre Besenval, Paris, France.

My studies in decoupage led me, along with seven other very talented women into the formation of the National Guild of Decoupeurs in 1971.  I was also the founder and director of the American Academy of Decorative Finishes, an organization that was dedicated to preserving the art of the painted finish (we did decoupage, too!).  During my tenure with the AADF, I conducted international hands-on restoration projects in France and Italy, as well workshops in painted finishes and decoupage workshops in London, France, Italy, and Toronto.  These endeavors were comprised of students from all parts of the globe.

I currently design and formulate handcrafted finishes for interior design clients' new and existing furniture and interiors, in addition to teaching decorative finish and decoupage workshops.  Some of my past clients have included the following:  Phil Mickelson, Glen Campbell, Paul Harvey, Bennett Dorrance (Campbell Soup heir) and Gail and Dennis Mathisen (former owners of the Harlem Globetrotters).