Presently, I am painting with acrylics on wood. After having been a watercolorist for over 20 years the freedom acrylics allow as far as building up surfaces and working into areas repeatedly fascinates me. This creates a richness on the surface and a history of layers. With this shift in approach my images have become more abstract, but they still reflect the same underlying themes. The themes revolve around awe of the mystery of life, a fascination with the interconnection between all things, and their transitory nature.

The formal aspects of my work are rooted in an appreciation of Eastern aesthetics and design. This interest has lead me to the study of Japanese block prints,Chinese calligraphy, and Oriental medicine. Each has given me something that influences my painting. The use of color and composition in many Japanese prints are exceptional. The careful consideration of the energy behind the stroke and flow of the characters help the Chinese create poetic calligraphy. The comprehensive theory of yin and yang beautifully expresses underlying dynamics witnessed in our bodies and all of creation. It presents a unifying matrix from which phenomena can sit. Other influences span art history and the globe. How fortunate we are to have access to so much of it. Primitive art particularly by Australian aborigines resonate with me.

I feel compelled to paint abstracts at this time. They seem to more closely reflect the ambiguous reality where I live. The place of human consciousness that's in constant flux between internal and external perceptions deriving from a host of origins. Motivated by formal aspects of painting but also by the spontaneous prodding of the subconscious. I feel a good abstract painting is challenging and freeing for both the viewer and the painter. To engage in these paintings demands a creative interaction and a visceral response to the paint. Inherent in their abstraction is also a refusal to be definitively pinned down. This unresolved quality keeps them in process and open for consideration.

The paintings become a metaphor for what ever is going on in my life. I have been trained to approach the canvas honestly and directly. As a result painting is both challenging and healing. It is really a way of journaling. The paintings serve as an arena where I can creatively play with all kinds of dynamics confronting me. As the process of painting unfolds, my focus shifts between spontaneity and organization, between detail and larger composition, and between the familiar and the unfamiliar. I am reminded my life is such a process ultimately governed by the same themes. The reflective quality of metallic paint adds another interesting dimension of change to these paintings.

Born in Michigan, I received a BFA in Painting from Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI 1977 and have been painting ever since. For the last 11 years it has been fun participating in juried fine art shows along the East Coast. I've enjoyed doing these shows where I get a chance to directly meet and engage with art enthusiasts. Presently, I live in Media, PA with my husband Ben, son Ryder,and daughter Mallory.

Major Art Influences

1) Fond memories of travelling abroad and living in Australia in my youth

2) Studying Fine Art at RISD(Blowing Glass with Dale Chihuly in the glass department)

3) The study of Yoga and Oriental Medicine

4) The deepening relationship and love of my husband, son,and daughter