Artist Statement
I am a lifelong resident of the Washington, DC area. I graduated from the University of Maryland with a BA in fine art and applied design in 1979. Professionally, I have enjoyed a long and successful career as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. My work has appeared nationwide for zoos, aquariums, and museums.
In 2005 my husband and I built our home on a parcel of land in the Agricultural Reserve of western Montgomery County, Maryland. Inspiration from the experience of rural living fueled my motivation to return to my fine art roots. Most of my images are equine and animal-related. My subjects are often transported into fantasy settings inspired by my travels. I was influenced by the surrealists Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte early in my career yet draw to the simplicity of Andrew Wyeth’s landscapes and the lighting of Edward Hopper. My works often reflect those influences with my signature colorful skies, long perspectives and simple composition.
My medium is Gouache (opaque watercolors) on fine heavyweight watercolor paper. I love the simplicity of working with water on paper. Gouache allows me to work in transparent glazes as well as saturated opaques. I paint on unstretched rough surface paper. My work is not varnished to enable the soft matte finish of the gouache to remain true.
All of my original paintings are custom framed in exotic hardwood frames created by my husband Rich, who is a professional fine woodworker. Rich and I work together to ensure that each presentation compliments and enhances the colors and subject matter of each painting.
Member of:
Women Artists of the West | National Watercolor Society | Maryland Federation of Art