My interest in art began at the age of ten when I discovered the work of Vincent Van Gogh and other impressionists. I studied fine art at the New York/Phoenix School of Design, New York, NY, life drawing and water color classes at the Silvermine Artists Guild, Norwalk, CT, and was educated as an interior designer at New York School of Interior Design. Working in film animation in the late 60's with Ralph Bakshi and Peter Maxx gave me another perspective.

Looking for inspiration, I went west living in Southern California for 16 years. There I was active in the art community participating in gallery and group shows in Los Angeles and Orange County. I was featured in the Los Angeles Times Sunday magazine and Southern California Home & Garden for my painted floor cloths and painted furniture. I took a break from painting by writing and illustrating a children's story on DVD called "Dog Park Blues" (www.baxterandfriends.com). I moved to Essex, Connecticut in 2005.

I think of myself as a landscape painter, and work in a variety of mediums including watercolor, pencil, and pen and ink. At the moment my current body of work is in oils. I work by sketching elements and finding the most pleasing composition of a subject that I like. I observe color, texture and sun position, then return to my studio to begin work relying on memory and intuition.