“Mountains, forests, and deep valleys. Long tangles of rivers and oceans that define the edges of continents. All have a way of connecting us with something profound. 

In the words of Joseph Campbell, American professor of literature and writer of comparative mythology, “One looks, looks long, and the world comes in.” My recent work is about belonging in the natural environment. It’s about being present in the here and now and expressing the elemental appeal of light, color, textural surfaces, and movement that transcends the material world. It is also about being mindful of ecological and geological systems and places that are older than human history–yet, shaped by it. 

The rewarding and humbling aspects of painting comes in the re-experiencing of inspiring encounters with the natural environment. Many choices are made to interpret the features and forces of it onto a two-dimensional surface. I agree with Cezanne who said, “Painting from nature is not copying the object, but realizing one’s sensations.”

I am obsessed with color. It expresses energy for me as an artist. The work I create ranges from representational to abstraction. It can involve elaborate layers, mesmerizing patterns, or highly reduced shapes and forms. It always involves color theory play. While my stylistic approach varies, I primarily use oils, gouache or mixed media and work in a range of sizes. 

I have recently retired from a career in cultural arts and museum administration and education (K-12, colleges, universities). My husband, Tim, is also a full-time artist. We relocated from Charlotte, North Carolina to the Lexington, Virginia area a few years ago because of its stunning beauty and sense of history. It is gratifying to be able to continue to learn and work as a full-time artist. I hope my work somehow connects to others in a meaningful way.”