The creation of art infuses a sense of balance and renewal in my everyday life. It is a way to reach out without the complications of words. With a generous art program in my childhood, I created with pattern and design: I made collages, created weavings using a loom, and etched into copper foils then washed over them with India ink. After this early benefit, I then studied in black and white media: graphite pencil, charcoal, pen and ink. Later, moving to color using acrylic, watercolor, oil, pastel and colored pencil. I aim to mix color with the intent to capture a mood within my paintings. My artistic subjects include figurative work, portraiture, landscape, wildlife, and still life.
As an artist, I feel my greatest fulfillment in the process of drawing or painting from life. It is from this essence where I find the most clarity to translate what I see into shape, value, and color. To portray my subjects, I work to capture the color of the light while rendering them within the full range of values. I often like to show movement in my brush strokes. I take pleasure in new opportunities of study, most recently in portraiture and figurative work. In each piece I strive to capture a likeness with a sense of individuality. I truly enjoy this pursuit and find it quite rewarding to meet people from so many different walks of life.
I attend a Michigan portrait group to refine my life skills when possible. I feel working from life is an important challenge. I reach to represent the true essence of my subject. I am grateful to my husband Mark and my family for their love and encouragement. I am thankful to have the time for my creative endeavors, to work in the arts and gain a sense of balance and renewal.