The creative use of texture, color, and design to evoke emotion and a strong sense of imagery
Background
The beauty I find in my everyday life constantly inspires me to create. And living in northern Colorado, I have no shortage of breathtaking and inspirational landscapes to paint. I work primarily from photos of my family’s travels and explorations. I often do a quick thumbnail color sketch on site. In the studio, I focus on not only re-creating the scene, but evoking the senses and feelings experienced during the time the photo/sketch was captured.
I am drawn to the luminosity of watercolor and the vibrant textures of pastel and oil. I also enjoy combining my favorite media and doing collage and mixed media work. I love to paint impressionistic landscapes, as well as florals, animal portraits, and city scenes, “drawing” on my graphic design background for composition and design.
After working as a magazine editor and graphic designer for over 20 years, I rediscovered my first love—fine art—in 2003. My watercolor, pastel, oil, and mixed media paintings have been juried into numerous regional, national, and international art exhibitions. I was a selected artist for Loveland, Colorado’s City with HeART Project, through which I designed and painted a 5-foot fiberglass heart, “Lover’s Leap,” in collaboration with a Loveland bronze sculptor. Its permanent installation is across from Lake Loveland.
I’m very thankful my grown son and daughter live nearby our Loveland home and am loving having a new granddaughter. I can’t wait to do some art projects with her!
I am active on the board of directors of the Art Center of Estes Park, serving as marketing committee chair and social media director. I enjoy mentoring students in watercolor and pastel through the Art Center’s mentorship program. I’m a signature member of the Pastel Society of Colorado and the Colorado Watercolor Society, and a member of the American Impressionist Society.
