My subjects are places which calm and bring me back to what is real and important in the world. I go to these places and create the mixed media paintings in my studio to pull back from the craziness of our culture, and in hopes of capturing the sense of quiet awe for others to share.

The technique that I use in the paintings evolved from a love of drawing, painting and fabric. I have created traditional quilts in the past using patchwork, appliqué and meticulous quilting stitches, but found the process too slow and the result too tight for my liking. That realization led me to develop the technique that I use now. I usually begin with a loose painting on stretched canvas, add fabric to the foreground using many prints and colors to get the desired effect and draw with pastels for details. The prints add visual texture to the painting which I like, but it often needs to be softened with a thin layer of paint to unify the painting. This process allows me to get depth and details without being too fussy. It also produces an end result as loose and painterly as I wish.

My work has shown in solo and group exhibits in places such as: The Nature Gallery at the NC Museum of Natural Science; The Women’s Institute and Gallery in New Harmony, Indiana; Pleiades Gallery in NYC; Art Academy in Chicago Ill; Barrister Gallery in New Orleans and others. I have been a finalist numerous times in the Artists Magazine annual competition (1 of 50 from 14,000 entrants).

Work has been purchased by and hangs in the following collections: the National Institutes of Health; University of Virginia Cancer Center; Martha Jefferson Hospital Womens Center and many private collections.

Biography

An artist from a young age, I knew that art school was my only option after high school. After four years at Virginia Commonwealth University's Art School, I worked as a graphic designer with clients such as American Rivers, World Wildlife Fund and the Land Trust Alliance. After 12 years of graphic design work, I stopped "work" to raise my two sons. I gradually got back to my own art and teaching art enrichment to children in several elementary schools as well as my studio at the McGuffey Art Center.

As a member of McGuffey (a thriving co-operative art center in Charlottesville), I have served on the executive committee and have coordinated community outreach projects which provide free art workshops to the community. I volunteer with low-income children on art projects of varying types, and recently finished a collaborative year–long project with a scientist for the Boys & Girls Clubs in Charlottesville. In addition, I co-founded an art camp with Ninni Baeckstrom in 2004 that is thriving and includes outdoor work/play with nature based work.

I still have my hand in graphic design as a supporting designer for Partners by Design, as the need for education and excellent communication is apparent. We do work for environmental, educational and non-profit organizations. For that portfolio, take a look at www.partners-by-design.com.

I never cease to be amazed at the power of the visual — and I strive to make a difference in the world, both in my artwork and in the design work that I do.