Artist / Teacher / Naturalist

Where Art and Nature Meet.

Nestled in my 1885 home in Peace Dale, Rhode Island, Smiling Moon Studio is where I teach private lessons, small group classes, and seasonal workshops inspired by the natural world. Whether we're painting birds, keeping a garden journal, or exploring the beauty of gouache, every class begins with careful observation and the joy of making..

  • After 28 years as a public school art educator, I traded my classroom for a garden studio tucked behind my 1885 cottage in Peace Dale, Rhode Island. Since 2019, I have created a life of painting, teaching, and helping others discover the beauty that surrounds us. Whether you're an experienced artist or picking up a paintbrush for the first time, you'll find patient instruction, encouragement, and plenty of laughter along the way.

  • I believe that art begins long before the first brushstroke.

    It begins by noticing.

    The curve of a shell. The pattern on a feather. The changing colors in a shadow.

    My classes are designed to help students slow down, observe carefully, and build confidence through thoughtful instruction. Technical skills matter, but curiosity is just as important.

  • Every class is different, but students often explore:

    • Gouache painting
    • Nature journaling
    • Botanical illustration
    • Landscape painting
    • Color mixing
    • Drawing from observation
    • Sketchbook techniques
    • Composition and design

    Most importantly, you'll leave with new ways of seeing the natural world.

A garden with colorful flowers surrounds a brick pathway leading to a house, viewed through a white arched garden gate. A sign on the gate reads 'Smiling Moon Studio.' The house in the background has siding, a porch, and solar panels on the roof, with trees and sunlight filtering through the leaves.