About The Artist
Gallery Artist
Tall Grass Arts Association, Park Forest IL — 2008-present
Artist's Guild Member
Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights IL — 2009
Artist’s Statement
About five years ago I began to work with oil paints again after a long period of inattention. At the same time I began experimenting with pastels — a medium I hadn’t used successfully before. Intending to concentrate on skills and the basics, I began with still life drawings and paintings of objects I could arrange in my studio. These eventually evolved into oil paintings and pastel drawings of fruits and vegetables set against interesting fabrics. I am fascinated by the shapes and colors available in the produce department. The addition of patterned fabric added not just a challenge (the original intent), but a way of seeing that has expanded as I notice pattern & rhythm in landscape paintings. I draw en plein air when I can, but landscapes and garden paintings are also sometimes based on my photos and sketches. Most of my finished work used to be in oil paints, but I find myself working with pastels more often. I am delighted by the intense, rich color and I am finding my art changing as I learn more about the medium.
In addition to the still life and landscape paintings, I have always loved drawing from the model and currently attend the figure drawing workshops at Tall Grass in Park Forest, Illinois. I primarily use pencil for quick sketch and for longer studies, watercolor or pastel.
Light, color, balance, rhythm, the poetry of the human figure.