I majored in Art and Art History. After graduating I felt that my drawing skills were lacking, and so I took a botanical illustration class while living in Rio de Janeiro, with Dulce Nascimento. I continued my studies at the Musée d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris. This work gave me a deeper understanding of life’s forms and functions. Now, when I paint abstracts, for example, I paint with the weight of realism and a respect for nature, and a love to taking risks and breaking rules.