An Army wife until her husband's retirement, Mikki resumed her art career working in stained glass, watercolor, then pastel. Previously an art major at Ohio State University, she also studied print-making at Columbus College, GA. Once returned to art, she studied with Frank Webb, Katherine Chang Liu, Maxine Masterfield, Albert Handell, Carole Katchen, Sally Strand and many others.

Currently working primarily in pastel, she has won numerous national awards and has achieved signature status in four national pastel societies, including the Southeastern Pastel Society. She has been designated Distinguished Pastellist in the Pastel Society of the West Coast and the Northwest Pastel Society. A Member of Excellence in the Atlanta Artists' Center, she has also been a board member of the Southeastern Pastel Society for eleven years. Honors most recently received were election to Knickerbocker Artists of America and National Association of Women Artists, Inc., both national elective arts organizations.

Her paintings are in many public and private collections throughout the United States. Since 1994 she has been sharing her knowledge of the pastel medium through teaching and lecturing. Best known for her vibrant figurative work, she strives to share her love of color with her students. She stresses composition, observation, and the unique abilities of her students.