Artist Statement: As I spend time outdoors, I am constantly creating art.   Whenever I see colors and textures anywhere that appeal to me, I am arranging them either in my head or on paper.

My inspiration comes from the landscape, its colors, textures and shapes.  I am interested in the way that sunlight enhances and turns the landscape into magical places.  Some of the gardens around Salem such as Deepwood, Bush Park and Martha Springer Gardens are such magical places for me.  The colors of flowers are especially inspiring for me. I like to discover such scenes, to be surprised and delighted by them.  Many of the paintings contain the flowers which bring me such joy.  I work intuitively and quickly.

My paintings are experiments and color is what I see first.  I have worked with different media but my favorite is soft pastel.   Recently, I have discovered and am enjoying using oil and cold wax, as well as collage.   I am experimenting with abstract painting after taking a workshop with Ruth Armitage at the Sitka Art Center on the Oregon coast this past May and June.

I spent many hours outdoors roaming the woods that surrounded our house as I was growing up and love painting woody scenes, trees ad weeds.  I am interested in the texture of paint and the way the strokes of paint and color interplay and affect each other. My favorite lighting is back-lighting, which to me brings the magic out of the scene.[/column_content]

About the artist:  I grew up in Ohio and graduated from Wilmington College, Wilmington, OH, where I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Art.  I took post-graduate courses there and also studied Fine Art at Dundas Valley School of Fine Art-Dundas, Ontario; Washington University-St. Louis, Missouri; The Columbus College of Art & Design and the Ohio State University-Columbus, OH.

After traveling and living in several states, our family move to Albuquerque, New Mexico.  There I studied pastel painting fr a year at the Harwood Art Center with Deborah Secor, a well-known pastel artist who was a founder of the Pastel Journal, and of the Pastel Society of New Mexico.I also studied with pastelist Susan Dougherty.  I have worked primarily in pastel ever since.   I have also enjoyed working in pen and ink, and in oils ad acrylics for many years. I have recently begun to work to a greater degree in acrylics, oil and cold wax as well as collage.

2000- Designed and painted border in acrylics for wall bulletin board, University of of New Mexico- Communications and Journalism dept.

2004- Designed and painted wall painting, “Noah and the Ark,” Children’s Nursery, St. John’s United Methodist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Exhibits: Art Department:

• Mini canvas Show 2010-2017  First Prize:Best Painterly Landscape-“Over The Water”-2012, First Prize:”Best Flower Painting”-2016
• Something Red Show 2012-2017
• Paint The Town Show 2010, 2012-2017  Honorable Mention: “Symphony of Trees”-pastel-2010, Best of Show: “Festival Flowers”-2013, Honorable Mention: “Behind Deepwood”-2012, Honorable Mention:”Deepwood Summer Hillside”-2015, Honorable Mention: “Summer Dream,” and 3rd Prize” “Bush Park Morning”-2016
• Miniature Show-Elsinore Gallery 2017
• Salem Salon Show-Bush Barn Gallery  2011, 2017 (July, August).
• Featured Artists’ Showcase-Elsinore Gallery  2017 (February-April)
• Group Showing-First United Methodist Church 2013