Rita grew up in Michigan and worked as a graphic designer for two printing companies spanning 25 years. During this period of her life, she was skilled in technical ink drawing, watercolor airbrush illustration, typography, and printing methods. Her artistic expression grew as she began to draw charcoal portraits for friends and family. Once her children were grown, she focused her time on developing her skills and love of art with soft pastels.  She enjoys photography and spends much of her time in the Lowcountry taking photos of wildlife and beaches in her area for artistic inspiration. She has developed a love of painting with soft pastels and it has become her favorite medium of choice. She works in her home studio and enjoys teaching her methods of painting with pastels.  She began by commissioning pet portraits and soon expanded her interests to include painting wildlife birds, animals, and seascapes. Her paintings are detailed and realistic in style exhibiting the beauty and harmony of her subjects. She is a member of the Mount Pleasant Artists Guild and a member of the Pastel Society of South Carolina. Her work is showcased in Mount Pleasant Artists Gallery and group exhibitions in Charleston South Carolina. She was an award winner in the 2019 PSSC Exhibition Show. She currently resides in Mount Pleasant SC with her husband Steve.