Biography

I was raised in rural Indiana with five brothers and two sisters, always in trouble with my parents for giving my siblings a hard time. It was a great childhood, only see that now. Many friends, activities and troubles, what more could you want!
My mother was a great inspiration to us always creating things, examining things in nature. Always interested in flowers, foods, fabrics and books.
My parents had huge gardens of flowers and vegetables that we all were required to tend before we had any free time. Our lunches in the summer consisted of many things we gathered just before our meals. Cool fresh lettuces, beans, tomatoes warm from the sun, fresh dug carrots and radishes with dirt still clinging to their roots were gathered washed and prepared for our meals. Yum! Suppose my love of cooking the slow way derived from those times.
Our free time consisted of many out of doors activities, roaming the hills, fishing, sled riding, rock hunting, and lots of kick-the-can with fire flies a buzzing in the hot summer nights.
I loved paint by number, drawing, embroidery and any number of things I happened to be involved with at any given time. There was a joke about what’s Charlene into now.
We had many different animals but not many at one time. I loved all animals and especially horses. I rode as often as I could beg my father and friends and time to just be around them.
I graduated from high school and moved to South Florida for school and to work in the flower business, then on to party planning and large events for the rich and famous in Palm Beach. Exciting! I studied art in college though didn’t receive a degree in art.
I married Les and we had our daughter Anna; the love of our lives. We decided to move to Pennsylvania to be around Les’s family and better
schools for Anna. She just graduated from St. Joseph’s University (Philadelphia) this year with a degree in pharmaceutical marketing. Can you tell I’m proud?
I have always had projects going, from sewing, gardening, calligraphy and
my favorite, painting. I began taking my art more seriously after moving to Pennsylvania and have painted since. I was afforded a life of not having to make an income with my art but after Les’ death I decided to make it my life’s work and put my whole heart into it. Along with a part time job event planning for the Berks Chapter of the American Red Cross.
It isn’t easy and many times quite hard but who ever said it would be easy.
With prayer and deadlines life continues to happen. My two aging black labs and I enjoy life, the studio and my garden.
My art has taken me to different avenues of self-realization where I can be reflective, humorous, sensitive, powerful, playful, nostalgic, and heal. My art has been the source of healing, comfort and a constant trial of why things have gone this way and what direction now.
I can’t say that my work has changed but my commitment has deepened and focused. It’s exciting though there are times when I am like the cat that doesn’t want to give up it’s position of comfort.