Blog On

In response to requests from far flung friends and family to see my paintings, I've decided to blog. Not only do I enjoy painting, I enjoy "talking" about my work. So here goes, blog on--we're off.

Guess the first post needs to be the obligatory bio blog:

I don't ever remember a time when I didn't want to be an artist. As a child I drew, painted, and modeled clay with abandon and encouragement from parents, grandparents, and teachers.

In high school, however, I fell under the influence of a charismatic journalism teacher and turned my attention to the written word. It was all part of God's plan for me; the skills I honed as editor of our school paper helped me earn a college scholarship.

When I got to college, I returned to art, my first love. Those were the days when the art world was declaring painting dead. So I continued to study drawing, but changed my major to design. Once again, it was a useful detour. I received a thorough grounding in color and the elements of design. Both of these are vital to painting. Without a sound design any painting, even a non-objective one, falls apart. Color is the frosting on the cake, but must be used with care.

After college, life got in the way. And a very good life it has been! I married a wonderful man and raised two beautiful daughters. Art was on the back burner, but never entirely off the stove. I continued to study art history, life drawing, photography and water color. But I never tackled oil painting.

Then along came Mary Mulvihill. She likes to say that when the student is ready the teacher will come. I was ready! I've had lots of art teachers, but no one like her. She is not only a gifted artist, but a wonderful teacher, generous with both her considerable knowledge and her time. She has become friend and mentor. Under her tutelage I have blossomed.

While working as an interior designer I discovered that the aspect of the job I most enjoyed was choosing art for my clients. Then I realized that what I really wanted to do was make that art. And that is what I am doing today.

Right now, candid portraits are what I most enjoy doing. It is exciting to me to transform a snapshot, or a combination of them, into a painting that perhaps captures a side of my subject that the photo may not express.

Here are some examples, including candid portraits of those two beautiful daughters.

This is Sara in "Blue Reverie"


This one is "Surf Romp", starring Clare, Danny and their friend Alexis


Here is Liz and her first cat, Tux. They truly chose each other, so I call this one "Chosen"