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Statement

Each of my paintings is a poem of thanks and praise. I hope to evoke wonder, reverence, revery and a sense of infinite possibility- the same sparks that ignite me when I am creating.

My abstract acrylic and mixed media paintings are inspired by both my outer and inner landscapes, by what I see and what I feel. I am enchanted by the energy and texture of the natural world- the magical interplay of light, layers, and designs- the history, the stories, the mystery there- particularly in the area around Lake Champlain in Vermont, where I reside for half the year.

I believe in the power of beauty and the imagination. I believe in the primal need to express, create and share what we have observed and what ignites our spirits in order to make sense of ourselves and our world. I believe in the intrinsic value of simply engaging in the struggle to give birth to an idea in a tangible form. It is exhilarating!

A fascination with the interconnection of all bits of life also fuels my work. Everything in this universe is made of the same stardust. The same intricate patterns exist all around us, both on a cellular and a cosmic level. Webs, veins, spirals, whorls, orbs, filigree, splashes, arcs, branching, and veils. These could be images of a rock, lungs, a fingerprint, a tree trunk, a hurricane, a galaxy, a brain, a water molecule. A poem by Ted Kooser, “On The Road”, captures this well:

“…a pebble of quartz,
one drop of the earth’s milk…
I held it to the light
and could almost see through it
into the grand explanation.”

Some of my paintings are calm, carefully sculpted and meditative, while others are fresh, loose and lively. As I paint and make marks, each piece takes on its own energy, guiding me along, one decision, one stroke at a time. I start with shapes and lines. Color and texture arise intuitively. I am being pulled by two forces: my emotions and my personal aesthetic. Playfully, in a flow state- what delights and intrigues me- to a state of consideration- what is working here? What isn’t? The creative process feels like a dance. A practice in presence.

Bio

Over the past five decades, I have taken art courses in a variety of media: batik, pen-and-ink, watercolor. Throughout my adult life, I have kept notebooks chronicling my observations and experiences. Gradually these became art journals, filled with sketches and collages, along with personal narrative and remarks about the creative process. As these notebooks evolved into more formal exercises, I realized that they were distinct art forms in themselves. At that point, I began creating larger, single pieces. These art journals remain a core part of my studio practice.

After retiring from a fulfilling career as an educator in Baltimore, MD, in 2008, I focused entirely on my artwork. It felt like a dam within me had burst open! The words of Rumi come to mind: “ When you do something you love, you feel a river flowing through you.”

From 2008 -2018, I lived in the Middle East, Asia and New York City, studying with art instructors in all those locations. For several years, I worked fulltime in a studio at the Art Students League in New York City, where I began painting abstract landscapes. My mixed media pieces and paintings are in private collections throughout the USA.

Exhibits

Memberships

Art Students League of NYC

Private Collections

Baltimore, MD

Beaufort, SC

Birmingham, AL

Blowing Rock, NC

Bozeman, MT

Charlotte, NC

Charleston, SC

Court Pleasantville, CA

Dorset, VT

East Hampton, NY

Fort Worth, Texas

Goshen, CT

Greensboro, NC

Huntsville, AL

London, UK

Manhattan Beach, CA

Menlo Park, CA

New York City

Pittsburgh, PA

Princeton, NJ

Vancouver, Canada

Vergennes, VT

Washington DC

Westwood, MA

Wyckoff, NY