What is your biggest art inspiration? This may not be visual.

Being alive.

What was your favorite thing to draw as a child? Why do you think you chose that subject?

Easy. HORSES. I was that girl. I loved horses more than anything. They were easy to draw and people were impressed by my skills.

Do you listen to music while you work? Anything special in your environment that you need to get your creative juices flowing?

No music. The Real Housewives are my muses.

Is there a person who really helped you in your artistic journey?

The first was my mom. She created a studio in our basement where we did batik, developed film and printed photographs, made stained glass, did macrame, spun wool, made natural dyes, did weaving, tumbled rocks and more! Later in life it was Rob and Christian Clayton, teachers at Art Center College of Design, who helped me see I could be an artist as a profession. There are many, many more.

“I crack myself up and do as I please.”

Do you have any tricks or insights into how to connect with your audience?

Don't try to connect with your audience. Connect with yourself.

Where do you get your best ideas? (dreams, shower, museum, train?)

By paying attention to what is going on around me, no matter how mundane it may seem. I am the Gladys Kravitz of art. This dates me, I know.