I am an artist. I always have been. When I was a child, I told people that I would be an artist when I grew up and I dreamed of the studio I would have one day. Everywhere I lived I had a studio. Whether my studio was located in a closet, a small room down in the basement, a screened porch, or a garage. With each new home, the first thought that came to mind was, Where will my studio be? At this point in my life, I have built the most beautiful studio I could ever have dreamed possible. It is in my home in Charleston, South Carolina, overlooking a great marsh and the Ashley River beyond. With ceilings 14-feet high and windows 5-feet tall, the view overlooking the marsh through 300-year-old live oak trees is magnificent. The sun rises in my front yard and sets over the marsh in my backyard. My property is on a tidal creek with a dock where I enjoy watching the fluctuating tides. I can easily kayak at high tide to capture different views. I draw and take notes on my sketchpad sitting out on my dock. Hundreds of birds have made my backyard their home. White egrets and blue herons fly in flocks year-round. Lake Francis, another place I like to paint for inspiration, is only a block away. The reflections of the clouds are beautiful in the marsh and on the lake. My home surroundings are continuous inspiration for my paintings. This I give solely to the blessings of God. I feel very blessed to have been given a gift. I love to paint. It is my world and my passion. I do not take this for granted.