She trained at the Watts Atelier of the Arts in Encinitas, California. During 5 years at the atelier, she studied drawing and painting intensively, primarily from the live model. Following this training, she was accepted into the Cecilia Beaux Mentorship program for emerging portrait artists, sponsored by the Portrait Society of America. During this year-long mentorship in 2013, she studied color usage with Lea Colie Wight.