ARTIST STATEMENT

Art has always played an important role in my life. From an early age, I was encouraged to express myself visually. I have been influenced by various art movements including the Impressionists, the Nabis and early 20^th century American realists.

My current body of work deals with figurative themes of a narrative nature. I pose  the subjects informally, engaged in everyday activities, often depicted in contemplative moods. My desire is to have viewers ask themselves what might be happening in the paintings and what the characters might be “thinking.” Another key element in my work is to introduce various design elements such as decorative patterns on pillows, carpeting or clothing that create movement in the composition. I also use still life objects such as coffee cups or telephones to heighten the narrative mood of the painting.

            I work on stretched, medium grade canvas, lightly primed, working with a white or lightly tinted surface to begin painting on. I use lightly toned backgrounds to maintain an airy, luminous quality throughout the work process and find a purity of color in this way. Oil paint is my chosen medium because I prefer to subtly blend together my colors slowly and create soft edges. The inherent nature of oils allows me to work in thin layers of paint allowing the under painting to glow through the later color applications creating a luminous quality, and a richness in the surface. The lighting effect is critical to setting a mood and I sometimes employ back lighting to create the illusion of filtered light. At other times I use a strong contrast between light and shadow areas lending a three-dimensional appearance to the figures. 

ARTIST’S BIOGRAPHY

My background as a fine artist is influenced by my knowledge of French language and culture as well as graphic design. I hold a BA in French from Montclair State University and later studied graphic design at the University of Delaware. Working as a fine artist since 1982, I enjoy working in both watercolors and oils. I served as director of media services at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware, until leaving in 1999 to pursue a full-time career as an artist. 

My work has been recognized with honors and awards throughout the U.S. My paintings are included in both corporate and private collections, including the collections of Maryland Bank of America , and The Honorable Ruth Ann Minner, Governor  of Delaware . In 2003, I was a featured artist on the television series “Treasures of Tampa Bay.”

I currently work full-time in the studio and exhibit throughout the eastern United States. I am represented by the Hardcastle Gallery in Centreville, Delaware, the Fiorini Gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida and the Seabell Gallery in Ogunquit, ME.