I was born to Brazilian-American parents on a self-subsistence farm in the middle of Brazil, and my early formative years were spent there. My family also lived in the United States, Niger, and Burundi, as I was growing up. Never losing touch with my Brazilian side, I decided to move to Brazil as an adult, and I lived in Brazil for 6 more years. Much of my painting is inspired by the natural beauty of Brazil.

A significant portion of my life, I spent in Pennsylvania, first in Bethlehem, and then at Haverford College, outside Philly. I graduated from Haverford with a degree in English and a concentration in Feminist and Gender Studies. I also completed two Master’s Degrees: one in Applied Linguistics, and the other in Early Childhood Education. As a professional, I taught in both public and private schools for many years, first in the Boston area, and then internationally.

For the past 9 years, I have been living in Wheaton, Maryland, with my husband and son. My move to Wheaton and the formation of my family marked a major shift in my life. I stopped teaching to be a full-time mother, and began painting. Art was always a part of my life, but now I am able to dedicate more time to it. I began as a self-taught artist, took classes in Cambridge, MA, and now I take lessons from local artists.

Acknowledgements and Thanks

I wouldn’t be where I am today without the following local artists and art supporters:
Mita Lazarte, Sandra Perez-Ramos, Roxana Rojas Lujon, Paige aka “Peijisan”, and Dan Thompson. Many thanks for believing in me and helping me grow!

I also want to acknowledge and thank my biggest fan and supporter, my husband, Nelson Mercado, for believing in me, encouraging me, and working behind the scenes in all my artistic endeavors, since day one.