ARTIST STATEMENT

My mixed media work is inspired by my love of color and pattern. Photos and random bits of found paper enhance my work in unexpected ways. The closer you get to one of my mixed media paintings, the more detail you see in the photos used. The use of paint ranges from loose washes and glazes to very detailed brush work. Paint is applied both over and under the paper. The final layer is added with the use of a sewing machine to give the piece some definition and texture.

The floral paintings I create remind me of women I have known. Some are weathered perennials who appear in my life year after year. Some are flashy annuals who visit to add color and a little spice. The paintings are made of many layers, like these women. Some are bold, some are more subtle; you don’t see their beauty until you get to know them. Matisse said, “There are always flowers for those who choose to see them.” That inspires me, as do the women who cross my path.

BIO

I grew up in a home filled with creativity. My mother was a painter and my father was a businessman/writer who also dabbled in advertising. As a child I rejected art classes and learned to speak Spanish and play tennis. While a freshman at Miami University, I discovered the Art Department was where I belonged. I received my degree in Art and Education with a heavy concentration in Art History. My career as an art teacher took me to several schools, finally finding my school home at Mariemont High School. I spent 25 years teaching art at Mariemont. During that time I earned my Master’s Degree from Xavier University. My continuing art education was filled with classes at the Art Academy, Miami summer courses and classes with a local artist. I retired from teaching in 2006 to devote my energy to being a full time artist. Most recently, I returned to Xavier to be an Adjunct Professor in the Art Department. I also love to travel to workshops and classes with nationally acclaimed artists.

The best things I have learned in my studies, I learned in my own classroom. Thirty three years in the classroom teaching art to high school students taught me many things. Value every ” accident” with the materials you use… it may lead to something unimagined and great. Be spontaneous with your work. You can capture that energy. Another pair of eyes can help you work your way out of a corner. A schedule is not necessarily a bad thing. It can help you develop a great work ethic. Art history is a wonderful place to start.

The main thing I learned from my parents, teachers, students and friends is: Never stop learning. Education doesn’t end when you earn a degree. It is just the beginning. Your work is never really finished; it is just a step to the completion of the next piece.