Me, Art and Studio Cats
After I painted a Santa Claus face on the holiday window, my grade school teachers responded, “You are an artist.” I also painted faces on the walls at home. Winning awards and scholarships in high school re-enforced my growing enthusiasm for art. I studied commercial art at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts which led to starting a business in advertising that continued for thirty years. Following the sale of my business, I returned to my childhood love of fine art. I expand my skills through intensive studies seminars and with nationally known art instructors like Alex Powers, Katherine Chang Liu and Bob Burridge.
Today I have signature status in several art associations and my work is published in national art books, magazines and calendars. My paintings can be seen in local and national juried exhibitions, in galleries or in my studio by appointment.
My closeness to nature and sensitivity to animals is the result of growing up in rural Illinois. The current bird series is inspired by watching the desert birds outside my Tucson foothills studio. I see not only how they look, but what they do and how they act. Birds are a kick! They have behaviors and attitudes like people. Observing them, understanding their delights and struggles, intrigues me. I enjoy sprinkling my birds with a little humor just for fun. These contemporary bird paintings are rendered in my signature palette of brilliant to deep rich colors. The birds can startle a viewer or charm them into a smile.
One day, a vulture landed outside the studio. Its size amazed me. I began to research vultures and they quickly became one of my favorite birds. They are masters at soaring, conserving energy and going days between meals. I found also, these gentle birds are not predators. Some say they are ugly, but my painting, Two of a Kind, is saying “not ugly if you are another vulture.”
When not painting birds or animals my fascination with painting people surfaces.
My art life has come full circle and it is a joy to be alive to paint what I love.
