About the Artist

Currently, during these chaotic and evolving days of 2020, I have chosen to lose myself in the beauty of the landscape of this precious planet, going first to the oceans who rule and give such peace and rejuvenation to our beings.

 I am also working in oil on a series of forest bath meditations, Japanese origination, using important people in my life caught in their life moments that surprisingly places them into the bath energy from wherever they are captured.

This year I have been immersed into exploring the abstraction of Jasper Stones, the art pieces they already represent, I love the textures and flow of color from years of Mother Nature's touches.  I feel this loosened up my work and views that will renew the style of my work

Since I wrote this original statement a few years ago my life has completely changed, the impermanence of living. Making art is the one constant of my happy meditative place. As you peruse my works you will see that there are two new sections, Cyclocross Art and Art Trading Cards, these have been my main expression for the last four years along with some inspiration from classes that introduce the new pieces in the other portfolio collections. I am learning about watercolors for my repetoire... My art is healing for my soul, as I am captivated watching the transformations using color and feeling the tactile sensations.   Every subject is about mystery and intrigue that exists and is created by these transformations.  I love that wonder that it creates.  What more is going on? What is this about?  Why?  The works grow on you slowly and reveal the answers to the mystery.  The works here are a collection of pastels, oils, pencil, polymer clay, thread, watercolors and mixed mediums depicting inspirations about people, places, landscapes, florals, and things found around me, and from research using various paths, in a kind of a modern Impressionistic style.
 

My roots as an artist started as a child growing up in Virginia, often drawing with crayons on walls and furniture, and I continue work as an artist in Northampton, Massachusetts.  My medium used depends upon my mood and the state of the studio.  Also it can depend upon what kind of meditative music I am listening to but I do tend to use pastels most of the time.
 

With pastels, I work quickly and impatiently for short bursts and pastels allow me that freedom.  My creations primarily stress color and shape, which are natural for pastels.  Their pigments are intensely beautiful and pure and the tactile nature forms a wonderful texture.  I layer with combinations of hand blending and endless strokes.  I use soft pastels primarily like Sennelier, Schminke and Unison or any brands that might come my way.  Lately, sanded pastel boards have become my surface of choice.
 

With oils, the act becomes slower and patient like the flowing river I love.  It is easy to sit back and reflect on the piece and to become immersed in colors and emotions.  I use many brands of oils but my current favorites are Golden and Van Gogh.  I love the smooth museum canvasses and often experiment with shapes and edges. 

Watercolors?  Well, I am learning, love their lightness and flow....hard to master, let go of control! 
 

The polymer clay process is my “summer or winter stuck inside but not in the studio” medium.  (Although I started doing glass tile mosaics last summer outside, more on that in a blog.)  I found that no paint was needed for the clays as they mix like oils.  It requires thinking the piece in a different way, more sculptural brainwork to form the reliefs.  It requires more planning but with all that tactile expression in making millions of little points in the clay I find it relaxing and meditative.  I chose polymer clays because no special equipment is required and it is very inexpensive.
 

The thread work using embroidery threads is my sitting back in a comfy chair on a cold or hot day moving the threads through a pace of hours of tiny stitches to create mostly floral forms on fabric, cotton muslin is my favorite fabric.  You get lost in the stitching and again the colors are simple and pure and fascinating.