Florida Artists Group

Artist Statement:

I am a colorist, painting to capture the intriguing play of light and shadow and the fascinating varieties of color on objects that enchant me. My objective is to convey the excitement I feel for the grandeur of objects to viewers of my artwork. I’m striving for spontaneous brushwork and to capture the essence of the subjects I paint.

Education:

B.A., California State University Fresno
Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California
Graduate Studies in Illustration, Syracuse University, New York

Workshops:

Being an artist is a lifelong pursuit, so participating in artist’s workshops on a regular basis is enriching. On my journey to perfecting my own style, I strive to be open to new ideas using new information that fits in with my philosophy. I have studied under:
            Charles Reid • Mel Stabin •Peter Spataro • Judi Betts • Camille Prezwodek
            Jean Grastorf • Frank Webb • Pat Weaver • Carla O’Conner • Sue Archer

Art Leagues:

As a member of various art leagues in Florida, California, and Virginia, I have exhibited my paintings in judged and juried shows and have been honored with a number of major awards. I have earned signature status in: Florida Watercolor Society, Georgia Watercolor Society, Mississippi Watercolor Society, and Texas Watercolor Society.

Publications:

My paintings have been featured in the book Notes from Millennium Beach, and Watercolor Magazine, Summer 2005.

Awards:

I have exhibited and been honored with receiving a number of major awards in various organizations including the following:
Art Council of Southwest Florida, Charlotte County Art Guild, Fort Myers Beach Art Association, Cape Coral Art League, Big Arts Sanibel, League of Reston Artists in Virginia, a one-woman show at the Alliance for the Arts, Fort Myers. My work hangs in private collections in the United States and England.

Technique:

I begin my oil paintings in the style of the old masters, beginning with a grisaille type underpainting. Instead of using a monochromatic value study using gray or burnt umber, I use the primary colors or red, yellow and blue. Red is used for the darkest values, Blue for mid values, and Yellow for the light values. This imparts a mystery to the finished work where little specks of the primary colors spark through the final layers of paint.