Having majored in fine arts at the University of Colorado Boulder in the early 1960s, Sandy worked for 25 years in the printing and publishing fields in both Colorado and California. In 1991 she graduated from California State University Long Beach with a degree in Education.

As an educator she used her creative skills writing and illustrating classroom materials. This, along with her printing background, took her to Nigeria where she helped build a kindergarten, taught graphic arts to seminary students, and discovered the indigenous patterns of African design. She works mostly in oil, acrylic, and ink, but loves the vast possibilities of mixed media.

A long-time member of the National Pen Women’s Association, Sandy helped sponsor children’s art and writing competitions and taught summer art-enrichment classes. For 15 years she was a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and for the last eight years has been a member of the Aurora Artists Guild

 This mask was created to celebrate the rich tradition of African textile arts with vivid colors, clashing patterns, and indigenous designs.