She returned to art school as an adult to study at the America Academy of Art in Chicago. The emphasis there was on classical art training, and she was fortunate to be in a demanding environment under skilled and generous instructors.

After leaving the Academy, she was accepted into the master’s program in art therapy at the Art Institute of Chicago. As part of her internship, she worked with Koko, the sign language gorilla, at the Gorilla Foundation in Woodside, CA.

Returning to the Chicago area in 1992, she earned a living as a muralist and trompe l’oeil artist for twelve years. Now, back in California, she is painting on smaller canvases.

Her paintings have been featured in such publications as Chicago Home and Garden, Romantic Homes and This Old House (May 2006)


Sara’s Client List includes the following:

Ms. Roberta Allen - Oak Park, IL • Mr. & Mrs. Arrenberg - Lemont, IL • Ms. Paula Barnett - Glen Ellyn, IL Ms. Selma Belajec - River Forest, IL • Ms. Tricia Berry - Hinsdale, IL - Mr. & Mrs. Jim Brace • Hinsdale, IL Ms. Paulette Cary - Oak Park, IL • Chicago Kitchen & Bath Design - Chicago, IL • Mr. & Mrs. Mike Cokie - Chicago, IL Ms. Patty Cone - Oak Park, IL • Mr. & Mrs. Cooney - River Forest, IL • Mr. John Cossa - Chicago, IL Senator & Mrs. Dan Cronin - Elmhurst, IL • Mr. & Mrs. Michael Cummings - Hyde Park, IL Dr. & Mrs. R. Daly - Orland Park, IL • Digilio Decorating - Forest Park, IL • Mr. & Mrs. Reuben Donelly - Oak Park, IL Ms. T. Flynn - River Forest, IL • Dr. Elizabeth Frye - River Forest, IL • Ms. Linda Girsch - Hinsdale, IL Ms. Mimi Glass - Lake Forest, IL • Ms. Judy Gleason - Lake Forest, IL • David Heinz Custom Woodworking - Oak Park, IL Hernandez & Wood Interior Design - Oak Park, IL • Drs. Jeejy & Mable Kalathiveetil - Burr Ridge, IL Mr. & Mrs. Doug Kellner - Oak Park, IL • Ms. D. Kern - Oak Brook, IL • Ms. Karen Kolwitz - Naperville, IL Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lamb - Lyle, IL • Celeste Mariotti Interior Design - Oak Park, IL • Ms. M. Mauer - Winfield, IL Dr. & Mrs. McKay McKinnon - Kenilworth, IL • Sandy Meade Interior Design - Oak Park, IL Ms. Julie Merhar - River Forest, IL • Ms. Donna Norder - Darien, IL • O’Baran, Inc. Fine Woodworking - Oak Park, IL Ms. Valarie Pagnini - Danville, CA • Dr. & Mrs. Steven Rembos - Downers Grove, IL • Mr. & Mrs. C. Rexer - New Lenox, IL Juliann Robinson, “Les Beaux” - Danville, CA & Oak Park, IL • Ms. Peggy Romano - River Forest, IL Ms. Kathy Salero - Chicago, IL • Ms. Diane Schwitz - Clarendon Hills, IL • Mr. & Mrs. Rob Smeltzer - Oak Park, ILAnnette Springer Interior Design - Oak Park, IL • Mr. & Mrs. J. Sullivan - Oak Park, IL • Ms. L. Van Damne - Chicago, IL Jackie Walsh Interior Design - Oak Park, IL • Ms. K. Walsh - Hinsdale, IL • Ms. Roque Weiland - River Forest, IL Villa Verone Restaurant - Geneva, IL