Bio

"Painting is both a passion and an outlet!" 

I have been asked lately to define my work. Why do I paint what I paint. What inspires me. Moves me.

My work is about light and dark, experimentation and pushing boundaries in search of light, or the absence of it. I work with many different subject matters, and it wasn’t until recently, in a quiet moment, that I realized my work has always been about finding light or dealing with the darkness.

Light is all around us. It shines brightly from those special souls who are filled with peace and light. It is necessary for life. It brings a new day, possibilities. It highlights beauty and peacefulness. It is hope. Light spangles and sparkles and dances off the objects surrounded by it in a myriad of colors. I enjoy the challenge of bringing the different aspects of light to life on a painting or mixed media piece. 

The absence of light is around us also. Darkness is necessary for the night, but it can bring nightmares. The unspeakable. But darkness can also capture beauty and mystery in the small snippets of light that dare to penetrate the darkness. It is those moments I try to capture in my work.  

With the darkness, for me, comes uncertainty. Sometimes things to be feared. I have found that just as a person can radiate with hope and peace, another can exude darkness. As a person living with general anxiety disorder and PTSD, I find darkness to be challenging. To me it is the unknown and a dark black hole I sometimes struggle against falling into. On many occasions or when I find myself struggling I use my work to explore this feeling and find a way to ease the anxiety of the unknown. 

I find it exciting and challenging to explore the contrast between light and dark in my work.  Whether I am working on a small frog enjoying the rays of the sun or a mixed media piece highlighting both the best and worst of human nature, or using blacklight to make a point, my work is about light, or the absence of.

As I explored these concepts within my art practice, I started painting from intuition, emotion and exploration of possibilities.

In my work, you will see bold color palettes, varied textures and mediums, creating strong contrasts in light and dark. I feel that this creates drama and an invitation to look closer. My pieces are created to draw you in and lead your eyes around the canvas, while encouraging you to discover the intricate details in the work.

Background

I was born in Chicago, and I grew up with artistic and musical influences within my family and from an early age showed a talent for drawing. I started my artistic journey with drawings of animals, pets and portraits. For many years, I was a self-taught artist and I never stopped learning. I devoured every art book I could get my hands on. Along the way, I had two sons, and took a bit of a break as I raised them. I always felt as though something was missing and started teaching art classes to feel fulfilled. 

I was diagnosed with cancer and crippling anxiety in my forties. By that time, I had accumulated many skills such as jewelry design and watercolor work. A negative reaction to a medication during my treatment took away my ability to perform the intricate skills needed for metalsmithing and I sadly had to set that aside. 

When I was pronounced cancer free, I went back to school to get my BFA  as it was always a dream. During my time at university, my work centered on paintings with a landscape theme and oddly enough circles. Now it is more focused on a specific section within a landscape instead of the whole. 

I feel most comfortable and at peace when I am outdoors and surrounded by nature. The sounds and colors bring me intense inner peace, so it is no surprise that it also inspires and fuels my creativity.

My portfolio has steadily expanded...portraits, landscapes, installations,  abstracts, jewelry design.

When I am not in my studio, I enjoy long walks with my family & my dog, cooking Thai and Mediterranean dishes, and supporting social causes.