When I paint, it is essential for me to experiment in subject matter, media, and style. My work may be representational or otherwise, although it usually presents itself as suggestive of the natural or organic world.

Because of its tactile and viscous quality, oil paint has tended to remain my favorite medium, although I also work in acrylic, collage, mixed media, and watercolor. I work in any or all of these media simultaneously and become involved in whichever medium and style I am currently using.

My work is focussed on color and the physical feel and look of paint.   I let the paint lead me to the story that the canvas will tell, to the location that is an abstracted landscape.  In addition to the abstracted vision that surfaces, an important goal is an intriguing composition of made of these elements: brushstroke, color areas, lines.

I begin my paintings outside in nature. I initially scout for a location and subject which has meaning for me,  and then return to that site to paint. There, I am influenced by the all the elements. This affects my painting and the feeling I put into the paintings. Being at the site allows me to deeply experience the nature subject as I am painting it.  

I like to explore how humans affect nature and how nature lives in it's environments, with or without much human influence. Often, I am attracted to aged forms of life - old trees and vines or massive rocks have a kind knowledge beyond human understanding. And the delicate beauty of a wildflower and a field of grasses has equal allure.

My paintings are completed in the studio. At this point, I work from memory and feeling. As the work evolves, it sometimes changes from the original scene, taking on its own life. The painting eventually becomes a memory of my experience with the environment. There is a deep personal connection with each painting which always remains with me.

I am passionately inspired about luminous light and shadow and the sensuous nature of objects and their relationships to each other elevated to a higher level. The goal of my work is to capture the moment of wonder in everyday objects that may reveal a story for the viewer. I choose my subjects very carefully for the magic of their texture, color, or graceful design . Whether it be a persimmon with leaves, a shell, antique glass, exotic orchids, some gourds or a pear, all are transformed in paint with many layers of glazes some in oil on canvas and some in watercolor on paper.

Contemporary realistic figurative, portrait, landscape and still life drawing and painting

Selections 2013: Home Rustic(most recent)

In this new series I am wanting to capture that nostalgic security felt as a child who knows where home is. Having grown up "Mid-Century" these modern architetural homes and tools are most memorable and still have a current and relevant feel.  So as we struggle with, "where home is?" we can always gleen pleasure from our feelings of our first home, no matter how mobile we've become.  The rusted steel represents the buildings gone by and the bright, thick oils carry the sense of hope and abundance.

Recent Works Circus Freaks and Sideshows Series: As a kid, I remember when the Circus would come to town, setting up in a vacant lot just outside of the city limits.  We could go see the animals being unloaded and feed while the men set up the Big Top. Those were amazing, happy memories. As an adult I realize that inside the Circus, it's a bit darker,  the freaks were painful deformaties and birth defects. The amazing animals weren't always rewarded well for their performances and life traveling the country in a train car wasn't an easy one. This series attempts to explore both the dark and the cheerful illusions of Circus life. 

Water Hi-jack explores endangered water species taking back their water supply in this frolicking, humorous eco-art series. Materials include hand-cut collage, photo transfer, and oil on wood panel.

I was in raised amid New Hampshire’s seacoast and mountains. My travels have taken me to Alaska, Mexico and as far east as Kyoto, city of temples. Self-taught, I work primarily with forms from the natural world to create visual spaces of harmony: animals, plants, water, sand. I strive to convey the grace, strength, and fragility of life, as well as its lush vitality.

My portfolio contains both representational and abstract works.  I merge realism with slightly fantastical elements, and the concepts of beauty and playfulness are very important to me in my work. I am also fascinated with the play of light on water. My paintings are meant to create a space of refuge for the viewer.

Home now is San Francisco, where I can be found climbing hills, walking along the coastal cliffs, and painting in the amazing light. My work is held in corporate and private collections worldwide, shown in national galleries. I love what I do, and it’s my great pleasure to share it with you!