I am a painter at heart. I enjoy working with various painting mediums including oils, acrylics, watercolor and pastels. Color, design, and value are strong elements in my compositions. I paint layers of transparencies to capture volume through the use of reflected light and cast shadows. I am currently working with Sennelier oil pastels and Lyra oil based colored pencils. The layering of pigment and the possibilities of unlimited textures create interpretive images rather than photorealistic subjects. The concept of talent is meaningless if I don’t take advantage of the gift of time and some innate ability. Being an artist is like anything else in life, to be accomplished, one has to dedicate time and hard work. I have studied the lives and philosophies of historically significant artists, which led me to experiment with many different art forms and materials.
In April 2012, 'The Art of Real Food' by Joanne Neft and Laura Kenny was released. I have spent the last 18 months working with local farmers to produce illustrations of seasonal fruits and vegetables for this lush cookbook. The experience has increased my knowledge and appreciation for those who grow our local food. I wish all people could wander the fields and orchards to see where their food is grown-how it looks in the dirt, on the bush or on the branch of a tree. The paintings are meant to be visually instructive in nature, and I hope they inspire us all to see the beauty in what we eat and how fortunate we are to have such abundant options for our meals. It was a great adventure.
As a teenager, I studied privately with a Spanish painter who taught me how to oil paint. He made a living selling his work out of a small apartment located near Madrid's Prado Art Museum. I learned to admire the historical paintings created by the Spanish masters. I was intrigued that this artwork was preserved for the future and it was of such value that artists spent hours, even lifetimes, striving to better their technique and communicate powerful messages. I continued my education at UC Davis at a time when many accomplished modern artists were teaching and producing work of their own on campus. I was privileged to study with Wayne Thiebaud, Robert Arneson, Roland Peterson and others who inspired the skill I continue to refine today.
Teaching high school art students lead to my life-long commitment to research, the study of art history, current events and trends that occur in an artist's lifetime. Teaching art classes required that I continuously honed my drawing and painting skills. During summers when not teaching I also attended the San Francisco Academy of Art to study illustration, traveled in the United States and Europe to visit museums and art collections
My paintings have been exhibited regionally, reside in private collections, and are owned by regional businesses. Current work is exhibited at the High Hand Gallery in Loomis, CA. My paintings have been accepted into juried art competitions, including the ARTS Gallery-Auburn, Roseville Art Center and the Crocker and KVIE Invitational Art Auctions.