My interest and admiration for fine art has been a constant throughout my life but my passion for painting was set afire by the face of a man I came to love. He took me to Monhegan Island, off the coast of Maine, an extraordinary place with such natural beauty and brilliant light that I felt compelled to capture – first in pencil drawings, later, in oil paintings – all the mystery and unique character that I find in a landscape, in a face.
But not only am I driven to explore museums filled with masterpieces, I am constantly learning, striving to improve my craft as an artist while I increase my sensitivity to new scenes.
It has also been my good fortune to have studied with master painters. My formal studies began with Daniel Mosner, who was followed by Beverly Grantham, Derrick and William Benson; then, at Cornell University, I was able to study under Eva Harabasq, among others.
My goal as a portraitist is not only to capture simple beauty but also to delineate an emotion that allows the viewer to sense the unique multiplicity of characteristics in those whom I’ve painted. I greatly admire national portrait artist Nelson Shanks, as well as the numerous masters who have worked and lived at Monhegan Island, among them the Wyeths, Robert Henri, James Fitzgerald, George Bellows, Rockwell Kent, Edward Hopper, and A. Bogdanovich.
My firm opinion is that all art should have a message, tell a story, or express a feeling; but above all, it must be beautiful and evocative. A rock, a clump of weeds can be exquisite when well-rendered. As a lifelong learner, I set my standards high. I do not claim membership in the new modernist movement; rather, I aspire to follow in the footsteps of the art world’s Mary Cassatt and John Singer Sergeant.
I am lucky in love and married to a very good man. I am the mother as well as stepmother of four terrific children: my sons Daniel and Stephen; my stepson James and his sister Susannah. The bright, gorgeous children they produce are constant muses for my portrait painting. (Not so much my pesky cat although I do love to sketch dogs and birds.)
Please check the My Process icon to get a better sense of how I approach each new commission. I paint from photos as well as from life, according to the wishes of my clients.
10% of my sales go to the National MS Society. I am grateful for the good work they do.