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Biography
In the last fifteen years I have taken many art classes and studied portrait
painting through workshops by well known contemporary watercolor portrait
artists. I have been especially influenced by Jan Kunz, Al Stine, and Carol Orr.
I have also studied the work of Charles Reid and Roberta Carter Clark.
The first time I really became excited about paintings and sculptures was on a summer
European study tour when I was a student. I especially loved the paintings of Mary Cassatt,
Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh as well as the sculptures of Michelangelo.
That trip had such an impact on me that five years later, I moved to Paris to study French
art, culture and language. I lived there for fifteen months.
After returning to California, I taught high school science, math and French in Long
Beach, California until volunteering for the Peace Corps. As a Peace Corps Volunteer
in Nepal, I taught science, math and English for two years in a small village in the
eastern hills. I then joined the teacher training staff for two more years in Nepal.
I was totally immersed in Nepali art, culture, religion and language for four years.
My paintings have changed considerably over the years. I began with a very realistic
style while I was learning to draw and paint. Then my work gradually evolved to an
abstract style of shapes and color.
Now I'm back to painting in a rather realistic style again.
Currently, I'm painting plein air
landscapes and seascapes such as this view from Bodega Head, California in
oil.
I'm also painting portraits in watercolor or oil.
Through the years, I've enjoyed painting
people very much. Portraits are such a challenge! Nothing is more difficult
or more rewarding than catching a person's characteristic expression in a
painting.
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