Artist's Statement

The soothing and regenerative forces of nature have long been a major influence for me. In my imagery I attempt to convey that experience by stimulating viewers' alpha waves and by expressing a serenity often lacking in our frantic mobile phone and email culture. Several of my works are displayed in hospitals and offices where the feeling tones help in soothing people's emotions.

I live in the Northwest in a region with diverse terrain that is rich with what may be the widest variety of crops in the world. Consequently there is much in my environment to inspire the landscapes I create. My graphic simplifications of the landscape pare down the world around me to the essential elements, shapes, and colors that are the crux of my imagery. Vibrant color and sensuality of line give my work a playful and contemporary feeling.

To capture the abundance of color in this world, I prefer working with thick applications of richly-colored oil pastels. When I apply them, I feel as though I'm massaging my work into being. In my use of color, I identify with the early 1900's European artists who were dubbed the Fauves (wild beasts) whose leading member was Henri Matisse. Other influences include Georgia O'Keeffe, Emily Carr, Paul Gauguin, Henri Rousseau, Thomas Hart Benton and Wanda Ga'g, illustrator of the children's book Millions of Cats.

As also can be seen in some of my work, I have a fascination with the colors and textures of ethnic costuming. It was partly due to this interest that I chose to focus on fashion design while earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Massachusetts College of Art. I also took additional courses at Parson's School of Design in New York City. Before discovering that I preferred painting and drawing to fashion design, I worked as a costumer in various productions for stage, film, and video.