I was born and raised in Traverse City, Michigan. I grew up in the country with orchards, farmland and rolling hills all around. Exploring and having fun with three brothers and three sisters was always a great adventure in the woods, lakes and the surrounding area of Northern Michigan. We grew up with the creative influence of our Mother. Her artistic abilities, combined with the love and support we received from her and each other has been a big motivation for the shaping of my life.
I knew at a very young age that I was going to be an artist. I started drawing with just a pencil at around the age of fifteen. Pencil drawings are still to this day my favorite medium to work in. I studied commercial art at the vocational center during my junior and senior years of high school. I attended Northwestern Michigan College and continued my studies in art through 1982. I then married the love of my life and my best friend Jerry Skrobacki. We moved to Florida and have been settled in Fort Myers for 26 years.
The inspiration for most of my artwork comes from our many years of living in Florida. You will find portrayed in my paintings the pristine sandy beaches and colorful skies of the Gulf of Mexico. You will also see the beautiful flowers, air plants and many of the native birds found in the everglades among the cypress trees. The underwater sea life in my paintings come from our many boating adventures, including family vacations to the Florida Keys.
When I am out in the midst of God’s beautiful works of creation, I am in awe of His masterpiece. Experiencing the peacefulness of the beach and the tranquility of the cypress slough or looking eye to eye with the brilliantly colored tropical fish on the reef is the inspiration for my artwork. The experience is my pleasure and the artwork is my passion.
