About the Artist
I am an abstract painter, inspired by artifacts, structures and surfaces that bear the marks of use, process, age or wear. I am drawn instinctively to unlikely arrangements of color and form that occur by accident rather than by intention.
Motivated by the colors of Pierre Bonnard, the surfaces of Paul Balmer and by Luke Randall’s commitment to artistry, I look to external sources for inspiration and to my evolving body of work on which to build my personal aesthetic.
While my children were young we lived on a family farm where our lives revolved around family, pets, a huge garden, livestock and, occasionally, wildlife orphans. Before and after children, I spent 25 years in college and university education. Over time my teaching focus evolved from fashion merchandising to housing design, systems and then to housing accessibility and affordability. That path broadened my perspective on social issues and on the human element in all things. As well, I discovered the satisfaction that can be gained from life-long learning and the drive to evolve in a chosen field. I began painting in 1996 at the Newport Art Museum Coleman Center and more recently have participated in residency programs and critiques. I draw on my collective experiences and push my goals forward to evolve my skill set, personal style and artistry.
EDUCATION
B.S. Home Economics: Textiles, Clothing, Michigan State University.
M.S. Home Economics: Textiles and Related Art, University of Rhode Island.
Rhode Island School of Design Continuing Education: Interior Design.
University of Rhode Island Continuing Education: Real Estate.
WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES (Selected)
Beach Studios, Newport, RI, with Suzanne Siegel
Coleman Center for Creative Studies, Newport Art Museum
MassArt, Boston, with Katherine Kehoe
Neighborhood Guild. Wakefield, RI, with Theresa Girard
Pompeii Studio, Saunderstown, RI, with Luke Randall
Provincetown Art Association with Megan Hinton
RESIDENCIES: Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, FL (20114-2017) and Jamestown Art Center (2018), facilitated by Theresa Girard.
RECENT EXHIBITIONS
Little Compton Community Center Summer Art Show, 2014–2019
Newport Art Museum Annual Member’s Show, 2015–2018