About

Barbara’s journey as a teacher, mom, wife and adventurer have enriched her life as an artist and writer. She attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated from American University, Washington D.C., with a degree in elementary education. Her natural inclination toward art and writing has continued to blossom throughout her life. Living in Europe for 3 years, swimming with the wild dolphins of Hawaii and swimming with the humpback whales near the Dominican Republic plus travel to interesting places in the world have inspired her art and writing. She is published in both fields.

Barb found a true passion for drawing mandalas at a workshop in her native Wisconsin. It was a special homecoming in more ways than one and consumed her interest for more than 3 years. She published an art book, Expressions of Spirit and a Coloring Journal with 28 of her designs. Then spontaneous art emerged. She discovered this form of art through a friend, who studied with Michele Cassou, the author of Life, Paint and Passion: Reclaiming the Magic of Spontaneous Expression. Quickly thrown back to her kindergarten easel, Barb painted on large sheets of paper with colorful tempera paints and was encouraged to paint anything she wanted. A total sense of freedom combined with color and paper resulted in pure joyful expression. It was also an opportunity to push through resistance and judgment that most everyone harbors deep within.