Artist statement/bio:

 

I honestly can’t remember a time in my life without some kind of art or craft. I’ve always loved art and my parents were always very supportive; even at a young age I recall being moved by Monet’s Rouen cathedrals when they took us to the National Gallery. So after a childhood well spent in all sorts of creative endeavors, I attended Christopher Newport University where I received my BA in Studio Art and completed my MAT for teaching Art K-12. Happily, I spent a decade teaching all levels of Art at Potomac Senior High School. I “retired” you could say after starting a family and wanting to be home for them. As a full time homemaker, I paint whenever I can, usually if I can bribe the kids to nap, or after they’re in bed for the night. Though I have been known to paint with an infant on my lap while docenting at Art First, but only while they’re small and easily contained. 

 

My favorite things to paint are evocative vistas, dreamy, moody landscapes and historical architecture, making Fredericksburg and its surrounding areas a perfect match for me. Since I prefer to paint from my own photos when I cannot paint from life (not easily done with toddlers in tow). Without fail this means many of my reference photos now have toddlers bounding out ahead into the compositions, and in doing so have made these works more than just pretty scenery. They’ve become tributes to the trips we’ve made as a family. When I noticed this, I realized my art had changed, if only slightly. I realized that this thing I’ve always loved and I’ve always done “for myself,” isn’t really about me anymore. It’s still for me, I still get just as much from it, if not more; but it’s not about me, or just me, anyway. It’s not just about what I think was a pretty view or a beautiful sky. It becomes about the days we’ve spent driving and walking, running and laughing, and inevitably, bittersweetly growing. It’s been really therapeutic in ways: immortalizing these otherwise fleeting memories in paint that will outlast us all. When I get to share that with others, it’s a real joy, and for that, I am forever thankful to have the opportunity.