Over the years I have seen many incredibly beautiful Art Nouveau pieces in various galleries that I have visited, both real and virtual. Without a doubt it has always been one of my favorite forms of art and is the inspiration behind the style of most of my work.

I completed "Margaux Nouveau" in 1995, while I was living in Idaho. This pencil drawing represents the playful wondering of the mind while we are asleep.

I completed this pencil and pencil crayon drawing in 1996. I thought drawing the woman in pencil crayon and the background in pencil gave it a dream like effect.

I am very proud of my Lakota heritage. I grew up hearing my grandma tell me stories about her interesting life as well as stories about Indian Legends. However, as a teenager I took all this for granted it just wasn't that important to me. I dyed my hair blond and didn't acknowledge my Native heritage in any way. As an adult I now realize how important it is to know where you came from to know whom your fore fathers were. It is important to understand that the blood of our ancestor's courses through our veins and in many ways makes us who we are today. For me it is very personal, it makes me feel grounded and that I am part of something that is so much bigger then I am.

This drawing represents a woman contemplating the rediscovery of her heritage and its importance to her.

Every place has one, from the smallest of rural communities to the largest cities. I am sure you know what I am talking about. It could be that spooky old Victorian house at the end of your block. You know the one where that weird old lady lives with all those cats. Yeah that's the one the kids say that she is a witch and on Halloween night they all dare each other to go there.

It could be that lonely and abandoned building or warehouse with its boarded up doors and broken windows. As you drive by you remember that horrible accident that happened there in 1934. Many bad things have happened in that old building over the years. That place has a sad history and very bad luck. Even though it is a beautiful warm day chills travel down your spine making the hair on your neck bristle. As you watch the old building disappear in your rear-view mirror, you think to yourself, I wish they would just tare that creepy old place down!

It could be that lonely stretch of road or that short cut through the woods. Remember, you have to go by that old cemetery to get there. It's very creepy there, so few houses and no street lights. It is getting late and you sure don't want to be here in the dark alone, so you pick up your pace a little. You want to look back but resist the urge afraid of what you might see. SHHHH! Was that a twig snapping? You better hurry. The locals say that a young couple disappeared here and they were never found. Was it just an urban legend or did it really happen? All you can do is imagine how happy you will be to get to the main road.

Yes, these places do exist, making your heart race and the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. They fill our minds with real and imagined fears but can you imagine how boring the world would be if these places didn't exist!

I was commissioned by a local resident to do this untitled pencil drawing. I had free artistic license with this piece so I really had a great deal of fun creating it.

I love to draw fantasy themed and surrealistic styled art. I wanted to express my personal impression of this person through this drawing so I used a theme and colors that I thought were very peaceful, magical and vibrant!

I created "With Love" at the request of my husband David.

He thought that it would be fun for me to create a drawing of what it would look like when I am finished doing a drawing. So, here are my three drawings completed. I leave them lay on my table with my magnifying glass and mechanical pencil. The pencil and magnifying glass are actual size. I use them to do all of my artwork.

So David this drawing is dedicated to you and has been created "With Love".

Violet the nature spirit is blue because she wishes that we would...

Take the time to enjoy the rich scent of flowers.
Take the time to enjoy the brilliant colors of nature.
Take the time to touch our beautiful mother earth.
Take the time to really taste your favorite food.
Take the time to listen to a birds song.
Take the time to hear the wind whisper gently through the trees.
Take the time to marvel at the power of a thunderstorm.
Take the time to marvel at the power of silence.
Take the time to listen to the steady heart beat of your lover.
Take the time to hear the stories of the elders.
Take the time to remember those who have gone.
Take the time to listen to the laughter of children.
Take the time to listen to your soul.

Most of all Violet the nature spirit wishes that we would all just

Take the time...