I was born and raised in Ohio, the land of painted barns and beautiful rolling countryside. Because I lived in the country my horse was my mode of transportation to and from friends’ homes, the skating pond in the winter and the local sweet shop in the summer. I lived and breathed horses and that is what I drew when I was young. Horses, horses and more horses! In around the sixth or seventh grade I won a summer scholarship to an art camp and ever since then I have loved creating art.
Of course, life intervened and as an adult many years passed before I had the time needed to create anything besides a well-balanced family meal. As a corporate spouse, I moved with my husband and family to various states and the North of England where I enrolled in art classes. I studied oil and watercolor painting as well as live figure drawing.
My introduction to pastels happened quickly – the vibrant colors caught my eye and my heart. From that point on I wanted to paint with pastel and that is what I have been doing ever since.
I am now known for my own vibrant use of color and I continuously strive to bring a sense of wonder and happiness to those who view my paintings. Be it a quirky subject, composition or something not seen in the painting at first glance, my realistic work is unique. The Chihuahuan Desert, big West Texas skies, expressive clouds and the beauty of sunlight and shadow on the miles of mountainous open space in the Big Bend area, where I now live, inspires me to introduce my viewers to the local wildlife, people and scenery.
Pastels are the closest medium to pure pigment and their versatility, beauty and luminosity is unparalleled. I enjoy experimenting with pastel application in both dry and liquid form and use pastel sicks, pan pastels and pastel pencils frequently together in my paintings. Applied dry, pastel particles reflect light like no other medium can. Nothing is more beautiful than an entire room full of pastel paintings.
There is so much beauty in items or moments of our everyday life and those are the things I enjoy painting the most. The odd composition, angle or view is what intrigues me and so my paintings are not a group of one subject or style, but a compilation of people and things that capture a moment in time.
I have been encouraged and influenced by numerous artists through classes and workshops. Workshops provide artistic enthusiasm both through the camaraderie of other artists as well as the introduction and sharing of fresh new ideas. I believe that art is a journey and continuous learning is the key to exploration in my work.
I am pleased that many of my paintings now reside in numerous States, the United Kingdom and Iceland. I am a past President of the Pastel Society of Southeast Texas, which supports and promotes the fine art of pastel painting, a member of the Big Bend Arts Council and an Associate Member of the Pastel Society of America. I am also a Signature Member of the national Society of Artists.
