Artist’s Statement & Bio
Welcome to my website!
I am a third generation painter following after my mother and grandmother. Having no academic art training, I learned from them growing up and initially began by sketching animals and the human figure. As an adult having a compelling connection with nature, my passion has become the landscape. I paint with oils, on canvas, and on panel boards, frequently painting with only palette knives.
Many of my landscape paintings are inspired by the alluring charm of pastoral Virginia and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, where I live; as well as the rugged beauty of my native New England where I return frequently. I also travel to other parts of the country and bring photographs and studies back to my home studio to complete if they cannot be finished on the road.
Although I hold a B.S. in Public Service & Community Studies from the University of Massachusetts, after retiring from the University of Virginia, I returned to painting and studied with artists from the McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville. My style is continually changing and developing as I seek to evoke the beauty, emotion, or whimsy I feel regarding my subjects.
I live in Charlottesville, Virginia with my husband, Jim, and our two Newfoundland dogs. We enjoy our dogs, traveling, RVing, hiking, and of course, painting! Jim makes the beautifully handcrafted, solid wood, floater frames that come with my artwork.
Nana Newfie, Hilton.
Studio Assistants :)
MEMBERSHIPS/GALLERY AFFILIATIONS:
Shenandoah Valley Art Center, 2020 - present
Blue Ridge Art Guild, 2015-2018
Charlottesville-Albemarle Art Association, 2013-2014
UPCOMING EXHIBITS:
Arts Incarnate, Harrisonburg, VA, May, 2023
Grace Estate Winery, Crozet, VA, June, 2022
Grace Estate Winery, Crozet, VA, Dec.-Feb. 2022
PAST EXHIBITS: 2013-2019
Grace Estate Winery, Crozet, VA, June 2017- Sept. 2021
City Space, Charlottesville, VA, Nov. 2019
Yellow Cardinal Studio Gallery, Charlottesville, VA, June 2019
Grace Estate Winery, Crozet, VA, Nov-Dec, 2016
Grace Estate Winery, Crozet, VA, Jun, 2016
Fellini's #9, Charlottesville, VA, Jan, 2015
King Family Vineyard, Crozet, VA, Mar-Apr, 2015
Fellini's #9, Charlottesville, VA, Jun, 2015
The Art Box, Crozet, VA, Aug, 2015
Java Java, Charlottesville, VA, Oct, 2015
Fellini's #9, Charlottesville, VA, Dec, 2014
Sunset Farm Studio, Crozet, VA, Nov, 2014
Spring Street Boutique, Charlottesville, VA, Jun-Jul, 2014
Speak!, Charlottesville, VA, Jul-Aug, 2013